New pedestrian bridge dedicated in Warren
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WARREN – The sun was out on a cloudless day. So were the geese and a few dozen community members, including local dignitaries, residents and media representatives Monday afternoon to celebrate the official opening of the Perkins Park Bridge.
The pedestrian bridge and Warren Waterway Trail link the Warren Community Amphitheatre with the Peninsula neighborhood.
"For years, you and I have stood on these riverbanks, looking across the Mahoning River and talked about what could be," Mayor Doug Franklin said during his speech. "We pictured the city reconnected to its waterfront. We imagined families taking a stroll on a warm afternoon in the park, right into the heart of our bustling downtown. Well, today, what could be isn’t just an idea anymore. It’s standing right behind us in steel, stone and light."
He pointed out that the $2.4 million pedestrian footbridge was built with a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission and zero taxpayer dollars.
"It is far more than just steel and concrete," Franklin said. “It’s a physical symbol of momentum and connection. I want you to picture what a summer Saturday afternoon or evening in Warren looks like, starting right now. You can take your kids or your grandkids or your parents or your boyfriend or girlfriend to play in these 56 acres of green space. You can take a relaxed walk directly across the river to enjoy a dinner at a local downtown spot, and then you can stroll right over to the Warren Community Amphitheatre to catch a live concert under the stars without ever having to touch a car key.
"We aren't just connecting landmarks. We’re connecting our roots at Perkins Park with the electric energy of the Amphitheatre and tying both directly to the exciting future that’s going to take shape right here on the peninsula. Projects like this just don’t happen on their own. They take a shared vision, patience and real teamwork."
Relating the positives economically and culturally, while recognizing that there is still much more work to be done, Franklin said after the dedication "It’s going to have benefits on several points. The most obvious is the quality-of-life factor and the fact that we’re connecting commerce with recreation in our public park space. So, it’s a real strong first step."
While the bridge can be viewed by the naked eye, Franklin said that additional work has already been done. "We have grant funding to do a lot of the infrastructure, water and sewer upgrades. So, we’ve been working on that for probably two years now. This is the beginning phase of the actual physical transformation of the peninsula. It’s the real anchor of connecting the downtown, the peninsula, to our parks and green space, and that was part of the comprehensive plan.”
As far as the next stage, he said, "We continue our land acquisition phase, which is almost complete. Then, you’ll start to see the vertical build. You'll also start seeing some of the infrastructure upgrades taking place."
Prior to Franklin's speech, Jim Kinnick, Executive Director of Eastgate Regional Council of Governments; Anthony Payiavlas, president and CEO of AVI Foodsystems; and Auggie Thumm, owner of Thumm's Bike and Clock Shop, also addressed the crowd.
While they didn't speak to the crowd, Franklin did ask fellow Mahoning River Corridor Mayors Association members, Girard Mayor Mark Zuppo and Struthers Mayor Catherine Cercone Miller, to stand in the background. "They have several exciting projects along the (Mahoning) River. We’re partners in this, and we’re stronger when we apply for funding like this, and we do it together," he said.
The bridge is the first of nine other projects that include additional dams removed that will build a waterway connection from Warren to Girard and Struthers.
Preceding Franklin using the large ceremonial scissors for the ribbon cutting, he said, "As you walk across this bridge and look out over the water, I want you to see what I see. I see momentum. I want you to see a city that honors its proud history and a city that is hungry for its bright future."
During his speech, Payiavlas admired what's been achieved so far and enthusiastically looked to a vision of the area.
“We are blessed to be part of this community, part of this town, and to have this beautiful project behind us. This is just the beginning. This is a bridge to the future of Warren and downtown, and we’re going to get it done.
"We are well on our way. It’s happening, but you know what? We all know this. We’re all born and raised lifetime citizens. Nothing easy happens in Warren, but when it does happen, it means more. And, this is going to happen. It’s going to be great. It’s going to be life-changing. It’s going to be transformational. It’s going to be monumental."
Future plans for the Peninsula Project involve bringing private development plans to build apartments, hotel and restaurants.