Elizabeth Park Foot Bridges

About the Program

Category: Arts, Culture and Historic Preservation (Best in Category)

Year: 2014

Elizabeth Park was the first county park in Michigan. The park is named for Elizabeth Slocum, granddaughter of the town founder, whose children donated the 162-acre family estate to the Wayne County Park Trustees in 1919. The park was established on the former Slocum homestead, but the property has since been landscaped and improved with a variety of recreational amenities. At its center is an artificial island created by a manmade channel fed by the Detroit River. A three-lane concrete road, intersected by numerous drives and paths, circles the island, which is linked to the mainland by a vehicle bridge and three pedestrian bridges. The bridges were constructed in the 1920s to provide pedestrian access from the mainland to the island. They are an essential part of the circulation system and the primary means of access to the park interior. As part of the first county park in Michigan, the bridges appeared to be eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion A for their significance in the areas of recreation and community. The three bridges – referred to on plans as “foot bridges” – are very similar in their design, method of construction, and materials. The bridge span is a single elliptical arch with closed (solid) spandrels. It is a monolithic reinforced concrete structure with a 60’0” clear span over the canal. The bottom of the arch (at the crown) is 9’0” above the spring line. The total length of the bridge is 97’0”. In addition to pedestrian access, the bridges have become very popular for wedding ceremonies and photographs for area residents.