City to Fix Damaged Pedestrian Bridge

The city will replace a damaged pedestrian bridge in Vaqueros Park with the help of a $10,000 state grant from the Natural Resources Infrastructure Fund.

Assemblyman Dick Ackerman (R-Fullerton), who assisted the city in getting the funding, presented city officials with the check at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. State Sen. John R. Lewis (R-Orange) also helped in the effort.

During winter storms of 1995, the bridge above a storm channel suffered significant damage and has been closed since. The park bridge had been used by students who attend the adjacent Van Buren Elementary School and by others at the park.

The city is now examining designs for the project, said John Fraser, the administrative coordinator. Officials are proposing to move the bridge and build it to span 60 to 70 feet and tie into the park’s walkways. “It will be a bigger and better structure,” Fraser said.

The bridge is expected to be installed by early next year.