Cleveland Bridge Project
Cleveland, Ohio is a city of bridges.
The Detroit-Superior Bridge (also known as the Veteran's Memorial Bridge) is one of the most prominent features of the city's urban landscape. The lower level of the bridge is a vast, cathedral-like space suspended over the Cuyahoga River, providing unmatched views of the downtown skyline and the city's industrial valley. The two ends of the bridge include vestiges of the former streetcar line--buried artifacts from the city's past, including stairwells and tunnels, segments of track, colonnades and waiting spaces, and the historic subway station.
The bridge is a structure with inherently exciting potential. Recent public events held at this remarkable site have demonstrated that this place matters to a lot of people. In fact, people respond to the bridge with interest seldom witnessed in Cleveland. "Ingenuity," a large-scale, weekend-long performance event, was held on the lower level of the bridge in 2009 and 2010, drawing a diverse crowd of more than 40,000 people. The bridge is a compelling destination for people of all ages, races, and incomes. People come from the city and the suburbs, from Cuyahoga and the adjacent counties because the bridge offers an authentic connection with the essence of Cleveland.
At the bridge, people can encounter the Cuyahoga River, the remarkable bridges in the Flats District, the awesome expanse of Lake Erie - experiences that define this city. Visiting the bridge is not a "drive by" opportunity, but an experience where people can linger and really see what makes Cleveland unique. It is an experience that people want to repeat with friends, family, and out-of-town guests. The unexpected beauty and rustic character make the bridge a destination of its own. Currently, the bridge is only open to the public a few days per year. Efforts are underway to transform the space into a year-round public space, performance venue, sheltered connection for bicyclists and pedestrians through a community-driven design process. The project is not about creating a new public space from scratch. The lower level of the bridge is a remarkable linear landscape that already exists. But some basic design and engineering work is needed for the bridge to be fully accessible and functional for public use. A planning study is getting underway with funding through Cleveland's Transportation for Liveable Communities Initiative. Additional funds are being sought for design and implementation.
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