DEEP CREEK LAKE - What began as an idea in 2005 now looks to become a reality as the Deep Creek Discovery Center announced Wednesday that fund-raising as well as designing phases are soon to begin on a forest canopy walkway.

"A canopy walkway allows access to the upper parts of the forest - the canopy - which is where most of the action is," Caroline Blizzard, Discovery Center director, said.

Blizzard explained that after visiting such a walkway at the Myakka River State Park in Florida in 2005, she and Becky Wilson, an urban forester with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Forest Service, wondered if such a walkway could do well in Garrett County.

After doing research, Wilson said it seemed that it could be a viable addition to the Discovery Center, not only to increase the center's work in education, but also as a place of research and possibly ecotourism, using Myakka River's 25 percent increase in visitors after the opening of their walkway as an example.

The proposed walkway would have 200 feet of wheelchair accessible walkways that would be approximately 20 feet off the ground. Blizzard said it would make the walkway the first of its kind to offer that kind of accessibility.

"We incorporated accessibility into the design," Wilson said, adding an outdoor classroom that would be incorporated into this also could hold several wheelchairs.

As well as the 200 feet of accessible walkway, there is a second phase of the design that will not be wheelchair accessible. This phase, Blizzard said, could be added after the completion of the first and would include a swinging bridge and a replica fire tower that would take visitors up to the treetops at about 75 to 80 feet off the ground, pending county zoning restrictions. Within the fire tower will be a second outdoor classroom.

Blizzard said the necessary permits are in place for the first phase of the design.

Funding is the biggest issue facing the Western Garrett County State Park Volunteers, the Maryland Park Service and the Forest Service, who have all partnered for the project. The walkway will take no state money, and the three groups currently are seeking grants as well as local donations in order to fund the project, which is estimated to run $264,000.

Blizzard said the accessibility of the first 200 feet of the walkway has garnered interest from the Christopher Reeve Foundation.

Despite the fact that the project was recently announced officially, it already has received more than $15,000 from a grant as well as local donations. Several fund-raising efforts are also under way, including "plaque donations" ranging from $100 for a deck plank plaque to $5,000 for an entrance plaque.

Another upcoming event is the Discovery Center Volunteer Night on April 17 at Brenda's Pizzeria at Deep Creek Lake.

As well as these fund-raising projects, Meg Lowman, internationally renown tree canopy researcher, will speak at Garrett College in May and will be at the Discovery Center for a book signing of her two books on her experience as a researcher, educator and mother.

Sarah Moses can be reached at smoses@times-news.com.