Published: June 10, 2009 02:37 pm      

McCloud to install historic bridge

NORTH SALEM — As William Roche notes, one goal in Hendricks County Parks and Recreation’s mission statement is to preserve history.

In 2002 the department purchased the 232 acres that would become McCloud Nature Park. Now they’re expanding access within the nature preserve by installing a historic bridge over Big Walnut Creek.

The park board always intended to buy a bridge to span the creek, which separates 110 acres of the preserve from the main south end. Board member Jerry Pagac, who was serving as the department’s interim superintendent in 2006, learned of an old bridge scheduled for demolition in Pulaski County through the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

Hendricks County bought the bridge, a Bolted Warren through-truss span, and paid to have it restored. The only difference now is the original structure had no railing.

“Bridges have changed a lot over time,” said Roche, the parks and rec superintendent. “There have been a lot of different designs. This particular design was popular in the early 1900s. It’s become very rare. As technology has improved, there have been more cost-effective structures. It’s a good thing to step up and sustain history.”

The county has contracted with Force Construction to install the bridge at McCloud for $532,180. Half of the funding comes from Hendricks County’s innkeeper’s tax. The engineer’s estimate for the project was $679,000. The bridge was first constructed in 1913 for $2,898.

“What 96 years will do,” Roche said.

Construction is expected to be complete by the end of the year. With a creek channel of 350 feet, a 230-foot elevated concrete causeway will be added to supplement the bridge’s 120-foot span.

The public will have access to the bridge next spring. Then, Roche says, visitors can view a side of McCloud that, with its rolling hills and scenic views, offers an even more dynamic experience.

“The south side is beautiful; it’s enthralled people for six years,” he said. “But on the north side there are additional woodlands. I think people will be blown away.”

The parks department recently reinforced 20 acres on the north end of McCloud, planting some 10,000 trees.

McCloud Nature Park is five minutes south of North Salem at 8518 N. Hughes Road. For more information, call (765) 676-5437 or visit the website at www.hendrickscountyparks.org.



wade.coggeshall@flyergroup.com