Park bridge work beginning (10/04/06)

A nearly 100-year-old iron truss bridge is close to being erected in its new home.

A city official said Tuesday night that pieces of the bridge, which once sat over Brooks Creek in Knox Township, is expected to arrive at its new home in Portland in about two weeks. Plans call for the bridge to be installed over the Salamonie River to connect Weiler-Wilson and Hudson Family parks. Work will begin as soon as possible, Harker said.

The bridge is being refurbished by the John Camden Construction Co., Pierceton. It was lifted off its foundation in August and later disassembled. The bridge carried Division Road over Brooks Creek between Ind. 1 and county road 850 West.

Jeff Harker, street and park department superintendent, told members of the Portland Park Board Tuesday night that the bridge will be reassembled over the river then painted.

The goal is to have the bridge installed in its new home by December, he said. Digging for the bridge's foundation began Tuesday.

The bridge will serve as a pedestrian/bike walkway for those who visit the parks. It will be located near the Portland Junior League diamonds, just east of the Wayne Street bridge.

Bridge work is expected to cost about $425,000. The county was awarded a $339,200 Indiana Department of Transportation Enhancement Grant to help fund the project. The balance will be paid with the county's cumulative bridge funds. The city will be responsible for the bridge's upkeep.

Also Tuesday, rural Portland resident Jenny Bricker presented board members some ideas for improvements and changes to the Portland Pool.

Bricker's suggestions included:

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•Allowing floatation devices to be used.

•Installing a heating mechanism.

•Putting a canopy over a portion of the baby pool.

•Changing the day of the week that the family swim time is held.

Bricker said she has two children, ages 6 and 2. Her husband isn't able to go to the pool with her, so it is difficult to watch both children in separate pools.

If her children were able to use some sort of floatation device she would feel more confident of their safety, Bricker said. She said she believes that Portland Pool is the only one in the region which doesn't allow floatation devices.

Bricker also requested a way to heat the pool be found. She said her kids used to take swimming lessons in the spring, but the pool was too cold. Her children now get lessons at another pool.

Board member Kent McClung asked Harker why the water is so cool in the spring.

Harker said the pool has several leaks. To make up for lost water, 4 inches of cold water is put into the pool each day.

Bricker also suggested that family swim night be moved to a weekday; it was held on Sundays this summer.

Park board president Neil Medler told Bricker he would pass her suggestions on to the other board members. The board could take no action on the matter because there was no quorum. Medler and McClung were the only members in attendance.

In other business, Harker said two pieces on the new playground equipment at Portland Memorial Park recently broke.

One part was replaced, and the other is expected to be fixed later this week, he said. GameTime, the manufacturer of the equipment, is doing the work at no cost to the city because the equipment is under warranty.[[In-content Ad]]