About the Bridge Park Project
The Bridge Park Project is a community effort to create a covered performance pavilion, market space, public garden, and improved parking at the Municipal Parking Lot in downtown Sylva. The project's goal is to develop this underused area of downtown into an attractive, accessible and functional public park.
The project draws its name in part from the Town of Sylva's plan to build a footbridge from the Municipal Parking Lot to Poteet Park, the Sylva Pool and the cluster of town government buildings on the north side of Scotts Creek. "Bridge Park" will also provide a pedestrian "bridge" between the same cluster of public places and Sylva's vibrant and growing downtown business district.
As early discussions for improving the space began, members of the community noted the need for a public space downtown that provides more than simply parking. The downtown area lacks a practical venue for outdoor music, theater and other performances. The Bridge Park, built on a mostly unpaved section of the Municipal Lot, will provide such a gathering space. In addition, the Park will complete a clear, attractive and direct pedestrian corridor from Main Street to Poteet Park. The foot bridge from Bridge Park to Poteet Park will provide access to public restrooms, facilitating public events.
The park itself will be home to a covered stage, and a lawn adjacent to the stage will give room for audiences to sit on lawn chairs or blankets. With help from local gardeners, the park will be a beautifully landscaped area—a pleasure to spend time in during an event or during a stroll through town. Parking on one side of the park lawn is designed for tailgate markets. The design specifically allows for cars to be backed into the spaces adjoining the walkway, so that a farmer's market or craft fair can line the park. There are many other possible uses for the park: contra dances, bluegrass festivals, start and finish lines for races, summer concert series, heritage craft demonstrations, local theater, and so forth.
This first phase of the plan involves the creation of the pavilion, lawn, market space, gardens, and pedestrian walkways from Railroad Avenue to Scotts Creek, and around the perimeter of the park. Access from Main Street will also be a focus, as improvements to the Mill Street crosswalk and the path across the railroad tracks are necessary. The group that has formed to achieve this goal is comprised of members of various community organizations, local government and representatives of the community at large. A shared vision of a cohesive, unique and functional downtown has drawn and will attract volunteers and donors. In the spirit of positive community cooperation, the park will be planned, funded, and built by the people who will use it.
Partnering Groups:
- Town of Sylva (townofsylva.org)
- Downtown Sylva Association (downtownsylva.org)
- Sylva Garden Club
- Jackson County Farmers Market
- Jackson County Greenways Commission
- Jackson County Chamber of Commerce (mountainlovers.com)
- Jackson County Arts Council (main.nc.us/jackson/artscoun.htm)
- Sylva Rotary Club (sylvarotaryclub.org)
- Odell Thompson, architect
