The Delaware Trail Spinners have created a fund to purchase a new fiberglass bridge to be placed near the stepping stone crossing of Middle Run. The goal of this fund is to raise $40,000.00 to purchase a 100-foot bridge for New Castle County's Middle Run Valley Natural Area Park. It is our hope that the park user will step up and help fund park improvements.

The Delaware Trail Spinners are a 501c(3) organization that is authorized to give a written letter of acknowledgement to donors for use to substantiate a charitable contribution. We've established a separate account this is intended to fund this bridge purchase.

We are accepting three different types of donations individual, group, and corporate. Individual donations will get a written letter of acknowledgement to substantiate the charitable contribution and a listing as a contributor to the fund on our web page (if contributor is okay with this disclosure). Group donations can be handled the same as individual donations or can potentially be applied to the adopt-a-bridge program. The adopt-a-bridge program will allow a group to pay the material costs of the bridge and for a plaque commemorating the adoption.

Wooden bridge structures cost around $40.00 per linear foot plus the cost of two plaques on each end of the bridge. Fiberglass bridges are approximately $400.00 per linear foot. The county will review the plaques to determine the appropriateness of the design. The first three plaques have been approved for the Andrew Mein Fund. This is a great opportunity for the user groups to gain recognition of participation in park improvement.

The Delaware Trail Spinners hope the park users will help support us on park improvements. In the past two-plus years Middle Run has seen some dramatic improvements. Over 6 miles of new sustainable trail have been built with multiple bridges. In 2007, there have been more than 5,000 hours of labor to create these improvements. In 2006, there were over 4,000 hours of labor. In 2005, there were more than 2,000 hours of labor (first fiberglass bridge installed between Christmas and New Years). The first fiberglass bridge was a cooperative purchase between New Castle County and the State of Delaware. This bridge cost approximately $25,000.00 plus installation costs. Volunteers from Friends of White Clay, New Castle County, the State of Delaware, and the Delaware Trail Spinners installed the bridge in three days. Additionally, 11 new wooden bridges have been installed at an estimated cost of $20,000.00 (500 linear feet at $40.00 per foot). Some new trail markers are in place with 8 more to be installed.

In 2008 we hope to see the installation of the new fiberglass bridge. We also plan to establish a connection between Papermill Park and Middle Run at Smith Mill Road crossing.

So, please help support our parks and donate to the Bridge Fund. Send checks to 333 Delaplane Ave. Newark, DE 19711, payable to Delaware Trail Spinners.