A Bridge to Somewhere
Photos of the Vancouver Land Bridge
Pedestrian bridges are usually ugly steel and concrete utilitarian structures built by the lowest bidder. Rarely are they a work of art that celebrates the land and the people they connect. The Vancouver Land Bridge in Vancouver, Washington, USA was designed by Maya Lin (designer of the Vietnam Memorial in DC) and landscape artist Johnpaul Jones as part of the Confluence Project. This is a pedestrian bridge worth building your whole day's walk around crossing.
I listen to too much talk radio where this would be maligned as a waste of taxpayer money. But I look to the local parks and historic highways that benefited from the work of artisans in the WPA during the Great Depression. They improved trails and built shelters and lodges that we still use and enjoy today. If we are headed into tough economic times, we may think about improving our infrastructure to make it inviting, beautiful, and memorable rather than simply cheap and utilitarian. The city of Vancouver sorely needed a pedestrian bridge to link the lovely river pathway with the historic area and neighborhoods on the other side of the highway. What they received is a beautiful pathway that takes you on a meaningful journey. Many people don't even realize there is a Vancouver in the the USA, located just across the Columbia River from Portland, Oregon. But it was the West's first neighborhood, with Fort Vancouver established by Hudson's Bay Company and becoming one of the endpoints of the Oregon Trail. It was also once named one of the most walkable cities in America. Vancouver continues to build trails and improve its walking environment for the future.
Photo © Wendy Bumgardner
Comments
Hey, I wanted to vote for all three of your poll’s bottom options.
Is multiple voting allowed?
And if ever I am in Washington state again, I will definitely be visiting the Land Bridge!
Vancouver in the USA? Once again I learned something new at About.com
I think pedestrian walkways and bike paths should be attractive. People really exercise more when they feel happy doing it. The Vancouver Land Bridge is definitely a place I’d like to visit.
Cool bridge — it’s further proof that creativity can help us build just about anything we can imagine.
Those of us who live in Vancouver, USA are very proud of our new bridge. This city has long been “walker friendly” and this beautiful addition to our city make it even better. Thanks for recognizing it!