Indy Parks to dedicate fiberglass bridge on Friday November 13, 2008

Indy Parks & Recreation will dedicate the new fiberglass pedestrian bridge in Juan Solomon Park on Friday, at 10:30 a.m. with an event featuring an educational talk on its significance and a nature program led by Environmental Education staff.

Fox Hill Elementary School students on a field-trip to the park will learn about the red-shouldered hawk, E. Screech Owl, opossum, skunk and a number of biofacts. They also will learn about the significance of the bridge from Bowen Engineering Project Manager Bill Lamkin.

The bridge was purchased through a grant from the Efroymson Family Fund, a CICF fund and area community groups.

"This project was made possible by a consortium of Indianapolis-area companies and the commitment by the community groups surrounding the park," said Indy Parks Director Stuart Lowry. "The fiberglass bridge offered a cost-savings of nearly $40,000 because it was assembled in pieces instead of one large steel structure that would have required a crane for transport. We preserved the eco-system around the creek because we did not have to remove as much brush and trees that a steel structure would have required."

Partners making significant in-kind contributions to the project totaling nearly $120,000 included The Schneider Corporation, Bowen Engineering, Laura Kopetsky Tri-Ax, ThyssenKrupp Safeway, Midwest Concrete Pumping and Baja Concrete.