Mills Park boasts new fence in commemoration of old 9th Avenue S.E. bridge
The City of Calgary has salvaged some rustic pedestrian railings from the old 9th Avenue S.E. bridge and upcycled them into a fence for the newly designed and opened Mills Park in Inglewood.
“One-hundred-and-ten-year-old structures, like the old 9th Avenue S.E. bridge, are one of many features that contribute to Inglewood’s intrinsic charm,” says Evan Fer, project manager at The City of Calgary. “As we continue to build and nurture our historic communities, it is imperative that we preserve as much character as possible. I am thrilled that we have been able to commemorate the old bridge by upcycling old materials into a new amenity for Inglewood in Mills Park.”
The old pedestrian railings were salvaged as part of The City’s 9th Avenue S.E. Bridge replacement project that began in 2019. The railings were lovingly cleaned, repaired and sandblasted before receiving a new coat of paint and arriving back in Inglewood at their new home in Mills Park.
Mills Park is one of the first natural play spaces in a City park and was redeveloped entirely with natural (and natural looking) play elements, including a wooden swing set, a rain garden and a slackline course.
Construction on the new 9th Avenue S.E. bridge is underway and is scheduled to open in fall 2020. In addition to upcycling the old pedestrian railings, the project team is working to ensure the presence and history of the old bridge live on in the community by:
- installing four historical images of the old bridge along the pathway's barriers,
- relocating the Inglewood sign to Statue Park using pieces of the old bridge,
- erecting an information kiosk that provides insight to the bridge’s beginnings and long history, and
- storing select pieces of the old bridge arch for future use in other creative projects and initiatives.
For questions about the newly designed Mills Park or the ongoing 9th Avenue S.E. bridge replacement project, contact 311.
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