Bosworth Pedestrian Bridge

Written By Larkin Ryder

Overview

The Bosworth Pedestrian Bridge provides safe crossing of a major traffic artery for neighbors and school families. Previously an unremarkable piece of infrastructure, the bridge has been transformed. The span and ramps are now painted two shades of bright blue, and its five pillars are blanketed in colorful mosaic designs created by artist Ross Holzman with students from the adjacent school. Glen Park Beautiful also engaged community members to garden the areas at the base of the bridge on both sides.

Artwork

The ramps up to the bridge are supported by five large round pillars of varying sizes, with the tallest standing 17’ tall. These pillars offered more than 400 square feet of surface that tile artist Ross Holzman set out to cover. 

The design is deliberately abstract and colorful, intentionally differentiated from the substantial and lovingly-maintained green space around the work. Each pillar is different, and is made up of multiple vertical bands of pattern. The pillar designs were inspired by indigenous patterns from around the world, spanning six continents. Glen Park Beautiful held two community meetings with the artist to ensure that the effort had the neighborhood’s support.

Drawing on deep experience working in school settings, Holzman set up his “workshop” on the yard of the adjacent school and students participated in laying tile through the after school program. Today, the transformed bridge creates a vibrant gateway to the neighborhood and the city at large. 

Timeline

 
Larkin Ryder
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