The Clarkston Farm and Garden Club wants to add to the beauty of downtown Clarkston with a bridge over the river in Depot Park.
The club floated an informal proposal to the Clarkston City Council on Feb. 14, and agreed to follow city procedures for formal approval.
Garden club President Julie Piazza told the council of their plans for a fund-raising campaign to build ‘a long-awaited, much talked about bridge at Depot Park.?
The club will use a memorial fund started almost six years ago to honor Daisy Darling, a long-time local resident and garden club member. The club has chosen ‘the Dandelion Bridge? as the structure’s name, in honor of Darling’s favorite flower.
‘We want to use her example of beautifying, educating and participating in the area we live,? Piazza said. ‘She exemplifies what we’re all about.?
City officials were generally favorable to the concept, but many questions came concerning the details.
City Manager Art Pappas had already contacted city-contracted engineer Gary Tressel for advice. An email from Tressel said the purchase of a pre-fabricated bridge, with proper foundation design, soil borings, contractor fees and the formal Hubbell, Roth and Clark consulting fees, could come to as much as $140,000.
Tressel suggested an alternative using steel beams to span approximately 40 feet across the river, with a wood deck and railings built on top by the city DPW. HRC’s consulting fees ‘would be minimal,? Tressel said.
DPW Director Bob Pursley said he would be happy to provide more details of such a plan at the next city council meeting. Piazza, who admitted that a previous attempt to build a bridge failed, said the club is prepared to follow all city-mandated procedures, including application to the city planning commission.
City officials, meanwhile, said research has to be done concerning waterway and flood plain issues.
Piazza said the fund-raising may actually be the easier part of the project.
‘We know how to get to people, and I think our board is ready,? she said. ‘We think we might be able to raise the money by going to just the key organizations and the key people in the community. If we have to go further and do a whole campaign, we have ideas.?