A bridge in Bowring Park received some attention during the latest City of St. John’s council meeting.
Deputy Mayor Sheilagh O’Leary and Coun. Jamie Korab said they are interested in some kind of acknowledgement of the old park bridge, engineered by Ove Arup.
Arup began Ove N. Arup Consulting Engineers in 1946. He went on to work on prestigious projects, including the Sydney Opera House, and become Sir Ove Arup. His company grew to become the Arup Group, offering engineering services for projects worldwide.
O’Leary said the connection and history of the bridge in Bowring Park was discussed under the last St. John’s city council, with an eye to working with the Bowring Park Foundation to spruce up the surroundings of the bridge and find a way to educate the public on its history.
Korab said he has spent his share of time in the park with family over the years, but only recently heard about Arup and the bridge, while speaking with park foundation chair Ashley Power-Stack. He supports the idea of recognizing it in some way, as part of acknowledging more of the built heritage of St. John’s — looking beyond million-dollar properties, he said.
“I’m looking forward to getting this moving,” he said.
