Historic Quaker Bridge Foundation / Historic Quaker Bridge Park

Continuing a process that began in September of 2003 in Hempfield Township, the creation of the first all-new public park in our area in many years is underway. Now that the Historic Quaker Bridge Foundation has ownership of both the bridge and the adjoining land, the trimming of trees and clearing of underbrush and weeds has begun to tame the tangled vegetative growth that got established during the protracted negotiations for the additional private acreage. This is especial...ly needed in the so-called 'Tween Area' between the old, vacated and new PennDOT highway Rights-of-Way, on both sides of the river. This is just one part of our Foundation's stated mission to "...create and maintain an inviting and accessible visitors' park for the local community along the banks of the Little Shenango River, adjacent to the bridge's abutments." The 1898 metal truss bridge was formally conveyed to the Foundation in 2017. This Mercer County treasure now serves as the 6.84-acre park's centerpiece and 'anchor'. Though this span familiar to motorists traveling Williamson Road was inspected by PennDOT bridge professionals and found to be in good shape for its pedestrian re-purposing, we have some 'spot work' to do on the structure, as well, before we open it up to visitors. These projects will get under way later in this new year, once the weather warms. Also this year, we will raise the level of our existing driveway ingress / egress embankment and ease the approach grade to meet the state's visibility requirements for visitors departing the park along Williamson Road. A huge help in that regard is going to be the many dump truck loads (well over 100 tons) of earthen fill graciously delivered on park property in late March, 2017 by Bob Beatty of J&T Paving. This clean material came from last year's nearby Hempfield Elementary School expansion project's excavation work along Fredonia Road. There will only be one driveway and vehicle parking areas on the east side of the bridge. Access to the west side of the park will be strictly on foot or by wheelchair across the historic structure, itself. We are excited to have generous offers of help from several organizations, institutions and individuals in the community to get the park ready for a Grand Opening. Check back here, periodically, as the new year 'grows whiskers' and various stages of developing the park begin and are moved toward completion. Sincerely, ---Nate Photo by Brian McKee, May, 2010:

The Foundation took ownership of the bridge last Wednesday, April 26, when PennDOT District 1-0 recorded its conveyance on the property deed in the Mercer County courthouse. They also vacated their abandoned highway Right-of-Way easement for both approaches to the truss. The original recorded deed and property plan were sent to Harrisburg for the drafting of a notification letter to the Foundation from the Secretary of Transportation. Over 13 1/2 years in process (mostly negotiating for the surrounding, non-highway acreage for the park) but, we've finally...Bought a Bridge!