Photo by J O'Neil On Track St. Thomas has successfully secured the MCR bridge over Kettle Creek
along with some four kilometres of associated rail corridor to Lyle Road on June
17th 2013. The group invited founders, media and interested municipal
officials to join them under the bridge on June 20th for the official announcement. On Track president, Matt Janes, thanked those involved in helping to achieve this important first step. Find some photos & press
releases below.
Photo by Joe O'Neil The dream of an elevated park soaring over the Kettle Creek valley is one step closer with the announcement that economic development group On Track St. Thomas has formally purchased the 83 year old structure and some four kilometers of associated rail lands. The transaction was completed June 17.
The not for profit group announced its plans to purchase the bridge last September with the aim of developing it into Canada’s first elevated park. On Track undertook intensive planning and fundraising over the past 10 months to achieve its initial goal of acquiring and preserving the structure. Future phases include stabilization and short term maintenance issues as well as the organizing of an international design competition to attract the best ideas for a unique elevated park attraction.
Gillespie writes about the STEP project in a January 27, 2013 Free Press column. In a related video, he comments from the bridge, talking with On Track Board Member, Joe O'Neil. The video includes some nice shots of the High Line in New York.
Gillespie writes:
The view, I have to admit, is incredible.
And I can only wonder how much better it will be on a day when
blinding snow, biting wind and below-zero temperatures haven’t turned my ears into frozen fragments of forgotten feeling.
But if all goes as planned, there’ll be far more than just a great view from this vantage point atop the old Michigan Central Railroad bridge towering nearly 25 metres over Sunset Dr., at Fingal Line.
BM Ross and Associates engineer Andrew Ross presented a structural assessment of the Michigan Central Railway Trestle to St. Thomas City Council on Tuesday November 13th. On Track members are encouraged by the confirmation that the bridge is structurally sound and suitable for a planned Elevated Park. Follow the links below for the Times Journal story, Heritage Impact Assessment and Structural Assessment.
Michigan Central bridge in relatively good shape but hundreds of thousands of dollars needed for repairs By
Nick Lypaczewski, St. Thomas Times-Journal
Wednesday, November 14, 2012 9:35:07 EST AM
Heritage Impact Assessment
Structural Assessment
A town hall meeting to introduce the St. Thomas Elevated Park Project concept to the general public is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 5 at 7pm in the historic CASO station in St. Thomas.
The Michigan Central Railroad Kettle Creek Bridge remains one of the most recognizable and iconic structures in Southwestern Ontario and On Track St. Thomas wants your help in saving it for future generations by converting it into Canada’s first elevated park.
The plan will be officially unveiled to St. Thomas City Council during a deputation at its Aug. 13, 2012 meeting. A town hall meeting to introduce the full concept to the general public is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 5 at 7pm in the historic CASO station in St. Thomas.
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