The Grand Traverse Conservation District is wrapping up a new boardwalk replacement project… one that they said is extremely eco-friendly.

The new bridge, located in the Brown Bridge Quiet Area, is constructed out of re-used materials and from black locust lumber. According to the conservation district, it’s the first of its kind in the region.

“It seems only natural that a structure made to help maximize the public’s enjoyment of nature is being made so as to minimize its impact on it,” said Steve Largent, Director of Land Management Services for the Grand Traverse Conservation District.

A Youth Conservation Corps team from SEEDS, a local environmental non-profit organization, was hired to rebuild the boardwalk. Much of the original material was re-used and re-purposed for the project. The rest was replaced with black locust wood.

“Black locust is a dense, durable wood that is naturally resistant to rot, making it an ideal material for the boardwalk project,” says Sarna Salzman, SEEDS Executive Director, “This improves the environmental impact of the project by not shipping in lumber from Oregon, nor using chemically treated wood.”

Working with SEEDS Youth Corps also allows the Grand Traverse Conservation District to make a positive impact on area youth. SEEDS Youth Corps teams learn about and contribute to environmental stewardship and sustainability while undertaking on-the-job training.

“Because all this work is done locally, our students get a chance to experience the entire process, from harvesting trees to milling lumber to designing the boardwalk to installation,” says Bill Watson, Director of Youth Development for SEEDS, “This teaches marketable job skills and an ecological perspective.”

The improvements to the boardwalk are not only environmental – the 920’ replacement is also much wider, allowing users to keep their eyes on the natural surroundings rather than where their next step is going to be.

“We are very pleased with how this project is turning out. We are confident not only that the boardwalk will last, but that we are also turning youth into the next generation of effective land stewards,” finished Steve Largent.