The Bridge is Back! The Party’s On!
The “Bridge is Back” will be a party like no other. Two years ago, the neighborhood hosted “Bridgefest” to help mourn the passing of its much beloved and used connection to Schenley Park and Oakland, the Beechwood Boulevard Bridge. The party was a celebration of the history and iconic status of this bridge. The party was planned as a commemoration and farewell to the old failing bridge. The celebration planned for the opening of the new bridge is designed to look forward and create a lasting memory for the dedication of the new Beechwood Boulevard (Greenfield) Bridge II.
Come to the bridge, Saturday, October 14th, beginning at 11:00 a.m. with a short fun run across the bridge and into the park, followed at noon by Kid’s Plus Children’s Festival and live music from the City’s young talent.
At 2:00 p.m., the celebration expands onto the bridge and its environs. The bridge will play host to numerous events throughout the afternoon and into the evening including, a Fantastic Adventure orchestrated by City of Play, games on the bridge (BIG Bigwheel races, Miniature golf, ring toss, Giant Jenga, and a rock wall) more live music, food trucks, a transport vehicle show of both 1922 and 2017 vehicles. The event culminates with a sunset ribbon cutting, which will illuminate the bridge under the direction of Lux Creative and signal the start of a small vehicle parade of the old and new across the bridge and into the neighborhood before returning to the bridge.
The evening will be capped with Greenfield’s first GLUG, a free circulating shuttle starting at 8:00 p.m. and running to 12:00 midnight circulating through the neighborhood providing passage to Greenfield’s local establishments, each providing drink specials to help celebrate the opening.
This event is a partnership with the Greenfield Community Association, Mayor William Peduto, City Councilman Corey O’Connor, the bridge construction team (Mosites Construction, Michael Baker International, HDR, PennDOT, and FHWA) as well as the City Departments of Public Works and Public Safety, Kids Plus, Lux Creative, City of Play, BikePGH, Healthy Ride, and Bicycle Heaven. All this is in anticipation of the scheduled opening of the bridge to all traffic the following morning, Sunday, October 15th.
More details will be rolled out as they become available including a program of activities, and a list of food trucks and bands, and how to get a T-shirt.
