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Mill Creek Park set to begin restoration of two historic stone arch bridges
YOUNGSTOWN
The Mill Creek MetroParks will begin work later this year to restore two historic stone-arch bridges in the park.
The project, set to begin this summer, is a rehabilitation of Orchard Meadow and Rogers bridges, both of which extend over Bear Creek. The plan is to clean and re-point the bridges’ stone masonry, construct retaining curbs and replace the pavement over the bridges.
Eighty percent of the project’s estimated $112,500 cost will be covered by a Federal Highway Transportation Alternative Program grant. The park system’s budget will cover the remaining $22,500.
The goal of the rehabilitation project is to improve conditions for vehicular and nonvehicular traffic, preserve the bridges’ original function and restore their aesthetic appeal, the park administration says.
Both bridges, like many others in the park, were built in the early 1900s and time has taken its toll on the stone, said Steve Avery, park planning and natural resources director.
“Pressure has pushed them out. So those will be excavated and reset,” he said of the stones.
The new retaining curbs will prevent that from happening in the future, he said.
These kinds of projects are always in the works because of the park’s age, Avery said.
The project is part of a larger effort by the park district to rehabilitate and preserve roadways, bridges and historic infrastructure in the park. For example, the park administration previously restored the Parapet Bridge, the Suspension Bridge and Slippery Rock Bridge.
“We’re the oldest park district in the state. We have beautiful, old infrastructure. ... You can’t just use them and do nothing,” Avery said.
New executive director Aaron Young, who took over the position at the start of January, said updating the park’s aging infrastructure is one of his top priorities.
“We’ve got some infrastructure here that’s been neglected for a long time,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of infrastructure that needs some improving, whether it be roads and bridges, [or] the infrastructure that we’re utilizing on a daily basis. ... We have to re-invest in ourselves.”
Before the project begins, the park district has to get approval from the Ohio Department of Transportation, which administers the grant funds. Once ODOT approves, the park can go out to bid.
Both bridges, located on West Drive and Lily Pond Drive, will close to vehicular traffic for about 30 of the 60 days the project is expected to take, Avery said. Park visitors still will be able to access the Lily Pond and Birch Hill Cabin.
The park will accept public comment on the project through the second week of February. Comments should be submitted to: Mill Creek MetroParks, P.O. Box 596, Canfield, OH 44406.