Historic bridge over Greenwood Lake dedicated
GREENWOOD ― City officials have dedicated a bridge with an extensive past at Greenwood Lake to honor a man whose home overlooked the span.
The old bridge, once used for cars, will now be used for those on foot who might even want to fish off it at the lake, 1521 Mount Harmony Road.
The Cuthbert Bridge spans Greenwood Lake now. Built in 1931, the bridge was used for vehicles in Hempstead County northeast of Hope. It is used for foot traffic and maybe bicycles now. The bridge is now open to the public.
The bridge was dedicated June 10 in honor of Dr. Thomas R. Cuthbert Jr. and Ernestine Strang Cuthbert, who lived in lived in a home in Greenwood overlooking Greenwood Lake.
Tom Cuthbert III said his family has "played a small part in the bridge." He talked about growing up at the lake.
"Our hope is that the entire community will glow in the beauty of this bridge, enjoy a spirit of adventure on the trails, just hiking, spending time with nature," Cuthbert said. 'I hope that each of you have a little better luck fishing on this lake than I did." He said his son Joe practically cleaned it out of fish, and his father "did well."
"We did a lot of great fishing on this lake and I hope you all will as well," Cuthbert said.
Greenwood Mayor Doug Kinslow said the Cuthbert family "served the city."
"And I don't say that flippantly. They served the city," Kinslow said at the June 10 ceremony. "People knew who they were and they knew who we were and it was just amazing."
Other Greenwood city projects being completed this summer include a parking lot expansion and a playground installation at Liberty Park, with both projects expected to be done by the end of June.
Fresh gravel has been spread in the parking lot at Bell Park. Mulch has been spread in the playground area and sand in the outdoor volleyball courts.
The Cuthbert Bridge was built by the Virginia Bridge and Iron Co. in Roanoke, Virginia in 1931. It was used to cross the Terre Rouge Creek northeast of Hope until it was decommissioned and donated by the Arkansas Department of Transportation to the city of Greenwood in March 2009.
The bridge was kept in storage, "awaiting a worthy cause and funding" until 2022, when a vision for its use was made possible by the dedication of donors, city officials stated in a program for the ceremony.
Those who donated their time and efforts included Kinslow, city council members, A.C. Brown, Rod Powell, Ralph Meeker, Daniel McDaniel, Roger Rainwater and Tim Terry. Parks commissioners who have helped include Joel Goldstein, Cinda Bell, Susan Fox, Kay Headley, Otis Edwards and Brandon Tate and parks director Casey Craig.
Others recognized included Randy Coleman, Mickle, Warner, Coleman Engineering, Larry Schmalz, Schmalz Engineering, Kolby Holmes, Holmes Erection Inc., Josh Belk, Josh Belk Inc., Jaco Burton, JJE Construction and ARDOT.
This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Bridge at Greenwood lake dedicated Saturday
