New bridge celebrates power of community in Harrington
- Jul 30
- 3 min read
By Amanda Nelson
After nearly four years of fundraising, planning and navigating approvals, the Harrington and Area Community Association is inviting local communities to celebrate the completion of a new bridge over the pond along the trail at Harrington Conservation Area.
The bridge officially reconnects the six-kilometre trail loop around the Mill Pond. Before the bridge, hikers would need to walk around the pond or through the water.
The family-friendly celebration will take place Saturday, Aug. 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Harrington Conservation Area, 963656 Elizabeth St., Harrington. The event includes a tour of the restored grist mill, a bridge ceremony, live music, a magic show, a food truck, a historical bridge display and other activities.
While the celebration marks the completion of the bridge, association member Michael Kukhta said the project represents much more than that. It reflects years of determination and the willingness of a small community to work together toward a common goal.
"We haven’t had a bridge for about, I’m going to say, maybe four years, and through various trials, it’s always … hard to get one of these things done because of the different people involved."
The Harrington and Area Community Association has managed the conservation area since the early 2000s, raising funds to maintain and improve the site for visitors. Replacing the bridge became one of its biggest projects after the previous crossing was removed.
Before the new bridge was installed, visitors relied on a makeshift concrete slab. Once that was removed, they either had to walk through the water or detour around the pond, making it impossible to complete the trail loop.
"For years, we had no bridge, so everyone had to walk to one side and then walk back the other and not be able to complete the loop,” said Kukhta. “That’s pretty frustrating; when you have a pond, you want to be able to walk over it. You can walk through the water if you want, balance on the rocks if you’re up for it, but your bound to get wet."
Kukhta said bringing the project to life required support beyond Harrington itself. Throughout the process, the association built new working relationships with the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority and the Township of Zorra, which helped navigate administrative requirements and approvals.
He said those partnerships became just as meaningful as the bridge itself.
"Through all the bureaucracy, we followed the tedious processes and we got a beautiful bridge, and we're happy to celebrate that and build bridges, but not just physically, but with people and with the community and outside the community who helped."
Though Harrington is home to only about 150 residents, Kukhta said the project demonstrates what a small community can accomplish when people work together.
"We often feel left out,” said Kukhta. “You know, we're a small cluster of about 150 people up in the north end of nowhere. For our shopping or getting out, we often go to Tavistock, Stratford, or St. Marys and to host an event like this, we really needed to scrimp and save, but we want to showcase our community. It’s something we are all very proud of.
"There is a pride, maybe even a stubborn pride in what we accomplished and what we were able to pull off, and we want to showcase that."
The Harrington Conservation Area has long been a gathering place for the community. Interest in preserving the site dates back to 1948, and the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority purchased the dam and pond in 1952 before later acquiring the historic grist mill in 1966. The mill, rebuilt after a 1923 fire, remains one of the few surviving water-powered grist mills in western Ontario.
For the association, the new bridge is the latest chapter in that history – one built not only with steel and timber, but through years of community support, fundraising and volunteer effort.
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