The sounds of nature along the trails within Hanlon Creek Conservation Area were replaced with the noises of hammers, crowbars and shovels on Saturday.
A team of volunteers gathered near the park's south-end located at Southgate Drive for the annual Hanlon Boardwalk repair day.
University students and residents ripped out and replaced 40 metres of old, rotten planks, along with repairing 70 metres of boardwalk, and resurface 35 metres of trail in Hanlon Creek Conservation Area. A total of 80 volunteers contributed their time to the project.
David Beaton, program manager of forestry and sustainable landscapes for the City of Guelph, said a morning crew of 29 U of G students from Project Serve, an initiative providing short volunteer opportunities for students within the community, managed to rip out two-thirds of the rotten wood before noon at the Southgate Drive.
In the afternoon, 25 more university students are expected to show up from Project Serve.
"They love it," said Beaton about the university students who get involved in the Hanlon Boardwalk work day, "They can return to this space they may have never discovered."
Since the project first began in 1998, over a thousand students have participated in the event. Beaton started the Hanlon Boardwalk work day while he was in university.
"Twenty-three years later, and I'm still doing it."
The 600 acre wetland is owned by the Grand River Conservation Authority, but is maintained by the City of Guelph. Beaton explains volunteers do the 'easy' part of hammering the planks while the city does the other dangerous work, like using chainsaws.
"It's a great partnership," said Beaton, "City staff make it much better, easier and safer for everyone."
Jamie McKeown is volunteering with his two young sons, Garrett and Aaron.
"It's fun coming out here," said McKeown, who has used the trails with his sons in the past, "and every time we come out here now, I'm going to point and say, 'Hey! Hey! Guess who built this boardwalk? Guess who built this boardwalk? Me and you!'"
Beaton mentions the boardwalk is an important feature along the trail as it protects significant wetlands while allowing people to cross. By participating in boardwalk maintenance, he adds it connects community groups and student groups to nature.
Another resident, Stacy Cooper, works in the construction industry. She said doesn't get out to the trail often enough.
"It's just fun to do carpentry work," said Cooper about her interest in getting involved, "It's nice to see all the females out here."
Dave Murray, a Guelph resident for 21 years, participated for the first time. Having the time to do so, he encourages others who have time to consider joining the event next year.
"It would be awesome if more people helped," he said.
