Meet Erin Gardner, the Westford student raising $2,200 to rebuild a 24-foot trail bridge; she has already raised $1,125 and plans to replace its railings so children can safely keep using the path

A deteriorating trail bridge in Westford, Massachusetts, is at the centre of a student-led effort to preserve an important route used by children and families in the community. Westford Academy student Erin Gardner is raising $2,200 to restore a damaged section of the bridge as part of her Eagle Scout project, according to a September 24 report by The Westford Villager, published through WestfordCAT. Details on Gardner’s fundraising page confirm that the planned work includes rebuilding a 24-foot portion of the structure and replacing its railings.

A bridge that has connected the community for years

The bridge, known locally as the Academy Bridge, forms part of a network of wooded trails connecting Westford Academy with nearby schools and recreational areas. For years, the trails have offered students a way to move between the schools and surrounding sports fields without relying entirely on roads.Time, however, has taken a toll on the wooden structure. A 24-foot section has deteriorated to the point where part of it has fallen toward the water below, while the railings also require replacement.Rather than allowing the crossing to become unusable, Gardner has taken on the task of helping restore it. Her GoFundMe campaign sets a $2,200 fundraising target, with the money intended to support the materials and work required for the restoration. When The Westford Villager reported on the project on September 24, the campaign had collected $1,125.

The project is also an Eagle Scout milestone

For Gardner, the bridge is not simply a community repair project. It is also part of her journey toward earning the rank of Eagle Scout, one of the highest achievements available in Scouting.The project gives her an opportunity to put the leadership and service skills she has developed through Scouting into practice while addressing something that has a direct impact on people around her. According to her fundraising page, the restoration will focus on replacing the damaged 24-foot portion and installing new railings along the bridge. Once completed, the work is expected to make the crossing usable for the community again.

Her connection to the outdoors

Gardner’s choice of project also reflects her wider involvement in outdoor activities. She is a member of Westford Academy’s Cirrus club, an organisation that encourages students to spend time outdoors and build connections through activities in nature.The group has organised hikes and overnight outdoor challenges, including trips to places such as Mount Monadnock. For students involved, these activities offer a break from the routines of school and an opportunity to spend time outdoors with friends.Gardner has previously spoken about the appeal of simply being outside, whether through hiking, climbing or informal activities with other students. That connection makes the bridge project particularly fitting. The structure is part of the same network of trails that allows students to experience the wooded landscape around their schools.

A project backed by local support

Gardner’s Scouting journey has also earned recognition from people in the Westford community. Local resident Barbara Evangelista highlighted Gardner’s years of involvement in Scouts, including leadership responsibilities and participation in a 12-day Philmont trek, in a Facebook post referenced by The Westford Villager.The restoration campaign now brings those years of service into a project with a visible community purpose. Instead of creating something entirely new, Gardner is working to preserve a route that local students have already relied on for years.If the fundraising goal is reached, the damaged section and railings can be replaced, allowing the Academy Bridge to continue serving as a connection between the surrounding schools, trails and sports areas. For Gardner, reaching that goal would mean more than completing an Eagle Scout requirement. It would mean leaving behind a practical improvement that other children in Westford can continue to use long after her own school years are over.