Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Bridge Park Project?
- Who is involved?
- What is the pavilion going to be like?
- Who is going to pay for this project?
- What is the fundraising strategy?
- What are the donor levels?
- Are donations tax-deductible?
- What is the timeline?
- Who will maintain the park once completed?
What is the Bridge Park Project?
A volunteer community effort to build a public space on part of Sylva's current municipal parking lot between Railroad Avenue and Scotts Creek.The space will include a covered pavilion for performances, a grassy lawn and public gardens, with benches and picnic tables. The park will be lined on one side with tailgate market spaces.
Our broader goal is to connect downtown Sylva with the municipal lot and with Poteet Park, the public swimming pool, and the cluster of municipal buildings across Scotts Creek. A pedestrian walkway will move across an improved Mill St. crosswalk, an improved railroad crosswalk, through the park, and over a footbridge to Poteet Park.
The Town of Sylva has secured funds to build a footbridge from the Municipal Lot to Poteet Park.
Who is involved?
The Bridge Park Project is a collaborative community effort. The following groups are currently represented: the Town of Sylva, the Downtown Sylva Association, Sylva Garden Club, Jackson County Farmers Market, Jackson County Greenways Commission, Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, Jackson County Arts Council, Sylva Rotary Club, Western Builders, local businesses and the community at large.Anyone is welcome to participate.
What is the pavilion going to be like?
The pavilion will provide a much-needed venue for outdoor performances, dances and gatherings in downtown Sylva. As such, the pavilion will provide a covered stage with appropriate access and utilities. Seating will be on the lawn in front of the stage. Please see the park plan for a rendering.Who is going to pay for this project?
The BPP plans to to build the park with donations, both in-kind and monetary.What is the fundraising strategy?
Fundraising events have been held, on and off site, since October 2006, including the first and second annual Bridge Park Music Festival (in October of '06 and '07). We will continue to have fundraising events to involve the community in the process. Please contact us with any fundraising ideas!We will also apply for any applicable grants.
We will give recognition to donors in the park according to the amount donated. We are also accepting pledges for in-kind donations, and hope to build a large portion of the park with in-kind goods and services.
We will build the park in increments, beginning with the pavilion.
What are the donor levels?
The following donations will receive name recognition in the park:$100-$999 Community Donor
$1,000- $9,999 Project Partner
$10,000 and above Park Benefactor
Donations of $50-$100 will receive a Bridge Park Project T-shirt.
Are donations tax-deductible?
Yes, we are accepting donations through the Downtown Sylva Association, which is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All checks are payable to the Bridge Park Project.What is the timeline?
The Town of Sylva prepared the site in the summer of 2007. Western Builders constructed and donated the pavilion foundation in October of '07. The pavilion will be constructed in the summer of 2008, and the remainder of the park will be developed as funds allow.We will start building the pavilion once we have collected ample funds and donations of material and labor to do so. We will then develop the remainder of the park, as funds allow.
Who will maintain the park once completed?
This will be a Town of Sylva public park, and will therefore be maintained by the town.As they do with the picnic pavilion at Poteet Park, the town will charge a fee for usage of the stage, which will fund the upkeep of the park. It is our hope to involve community volunteers and organizations in the ongoing care of the Park's gardens.
