For roughly two years, a blown-out trail bridge on Christiansen Forest Preserve’s woodland loop restricted access to a portion of the park. A project that would require engineering
and consume considerable work hours, it simply hadn’t yet made its way to the top of Story County Conservation’s (SCC) project list. That is, until Ross Naylor, owner of local construction business Renomads, saw an opportunity for his business to collaborate with SCC and solve this problem – in memory of a special hiking partner.
Ross’s Story
"Christiansen Forest Preserve holds a special place in my heart. Being so close to Huxley, it is a favorite spot for Elizabeth (my girlfriend), I, and our dogs (Lemon and Tater) to get some exercise. After finding this hidden gem, hiking & exploring the trails quickly became part of our daily routine. No one appreciated these moments more than my dog, Tater. Tater would sit by the door, insisting we take him to the woods. He knew when it was time, and he knew where he wanted to go. While Elizabeth and I enjoyed the fresh air and exercise, Tater and Lemon enjoyed the sticks, squirrels, and endless scents.
"One day on our walk, we found the back trail was closed due to a fallen bridge. Although the lack of a bridge didn't deter the dogs or us, after some time, we started talking about what it would take to construct a new bridge to reopen the trail.
"I’ve always loved building, engineering and problem-solving, so after several walks and many conversations about the bridge, we decided we might be able to help. My brother and I own Renomads, a local building company. Elizabeth contacted Story County and got in touch with Trails Technician Derek Seward, and before we knew it, SCC purchased a bridge kit, and we had a meeting set and a date on the calendar for the installation.
"The project took on a new layer of meaning when we unexpectedly lost Tater. His last walk was at the preserve only hours before his passing, and the bridge became a way to honor him. It is a place that will always hold special memories for us.
"Renomads is grateful to be part of community efforts to protect and improve places like Christiansen Forest Preserve for everyone to enjoy. The bridge project felt like a fitting way to give back to a place we cherish, and support the work that SCC consistently does to keep these natural spaces accessible and beautiful."
Picture: SCC park enthusiasts, Lemon (left) and Tater (right), provided inspiration behind a recent collaborative bridge installation at Christiansen Forest Preserve near Huxley. To some, the bridge will be unofficially known as "Tater's Bridge."
The Bridge
Ten Renomads employees volunteered a total of 65 hours for this project. The crew spent several hours assembling aluminum bridge pieces and bolting together. Four large, deep holes for bridge footings were dug by hand – 4’ deep and 6’ wide! For the last step, Renomads worked beside several SCC employees to pour footings and install the bridge in September.
How can you get involved?
Is your business interested in giving back to county parks? Contact us to schedule a Volunteer Time Off (VTO) work day for your employees/co-workers, or inquire about how your business can help support projects like this through monetary donations, donated services, and more.
Ten Renomads employees volunteered a total of 65 hours for this special project.
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