The City of Nelson will be installing a new bridge in Gyro Park this fall.
Last week the city announced the outdoor pool at Gyro Park will reopen again this month for the first-time post pandemic.
Following the announcement, some community members asked about the city’s plan to reinstall a bridge at the park, as the original bridge was demolished in February due to safety concerns around its structural integrity.
The old bridge was constructed in 1950 and dedicated to Robert Hampton-Gray, who died in World War II. It was made from concrete and railroad ties. It had been a staple in the community for many years.
The city’s director of municipal operations, Charlie Henderson, says a new bridge is on its way.
“The public works team needs to construct new concrete footings and the new bridge will be craned in placed. A new aluminum bridge has been purchased and should arrive at the public works yard in the coming weeks.”
Henderson says construction would impact the use of the pool during the summer, which is why the city decided to delay its installation until after the pool is closed.
“For the new concrete footings to be constructed we have to shut the pool down and we obviously don’t want to do that until the summer is over. We are hoping Nelsonites enjoy the pool all summer long, minus a bridge.”
The former pedestrian bridge was adjacent to the gazebo and overtop concrete that separated the main pool from the infant pool. Because of its location the city decided to delay construction to the fall to ensure that both pools could be open for the summer.
Henderson says they would have still opened the pool despite construction on a new bridge, but decided to wait until the fall to ensure all ages can enjoy the facility.
“The main pool could have been opened; however, we couldn’t allow anyone to walk under the bridge due to falling concrete and the poor condition of the bridge, the kiddy pool would have been closed as we would have had to closed access to it.”
Once construction begins, Henderson says they will ask the public to be mindful of the construction site and safety hazards in the area.
“During the fall months we are asking the public to adhere to the construction signage and please stay out of active work zones.”
The Gyro Park pool is set to open on Monday and usually closes for the season in early September, depending on weather conditions.