Bend Bridge Nominated for 2015 list of "Missouri's Most Historic Places in Peril"

4-5-2015 (Happy Easter)
Pacific's 100 year old Bend Bridge (aka Withington Ford Bridge) has been nominated by the good folks at www.bridgehunter.com for recognition as one of Missouri's most historic places that is most in peril of demolition.   The application was submitted to the Missouri Alliance for Historic Preservation on April 2nd and will be considered among other applications that are submitted from around the state.

The “Missouri’s Places in Peril,” program began in 2000 and was then entitled “Missouri’s Most Endangered Historic Places.” The program calls attention to endangered historic resources statewide, and generates a call to action.  Upon selection, an advocate will be assigned to the Old Bend Bridge to assess the immediate needs of the endangered resource and assist the nominators to help ensure its preservation.  Nominations are assessed by a committee of Missouri Preservation’s governing board and the announcement of their selections will made at one of the sites chosen to be on the official list, usually during May, which is National Preservation Month.

Although the Old Bend Bridge has recently passed inspection for 17 ton vehicular traffic, it is being replaced with a new bridge 700' downstream of the existing location.  The Ozark Trail Association would like to use the Old Bend Bridge as a future crossing for the 550 mile Ozark Trail as it makes its way from Arkansas to Leasberg to Robertsville State Park and then along the Meramec River through the town of Pacific where the trail will link to the Great Rivers Greenway trail that will continue east through St. Louis County and end at the Mississippi River.  Despite having knowledge of this important plan for the region's economic future the Franklin County Commissioners have been unwilling to help in this effort.  They are determined to tear the bridge down and have publicly stated "it's our bridge" and that they believe even if a group makes an offer to take over the bridge that the county does not have to accept it.

To send a letter of support, please address it to:
   

Missouri Alliance for Historic Preservation

Attn: Places in Peril

                                                      320 First Street

                                                      Boonville, MO 65223

or send an email to:

                                              missouripreservation@yahoo.com

The Ozark Trail Association is pleased to announce the addition of Steve Myers of Pacific, Missouri to the OTA Board. Through his membership in Boy Scouting, Steve developed a healthy respect for the environment at a very young age as well as an appreciation for the many benefits outdoor recreational programs can bring to a community. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 1981 and hiked more than 300 miles of trail in the St. Louis region both as a scout and an adult leader. This year marks the 6th consecutive year Steve has served as a volunteer Trip Leader for the Open Space Council’s Operation Clean Stream program removing trash and debris from the Meramec River. Steve also serves as the director of the River Walk Trail Project Committee that has been building momentum in an effort to facilitate the connection of the Ozark Trail to the Great Rivers Greenway Trail system at the St. Louis/ Franklin County line at Pacific. Steve received an A.A. degree in Business Management from East Central College and a B.S. in Business Administration / Marketing from Webster University.  He is also an alderman for the City of Pacific.

The Ozark Trail is a nationally recognized hiking, backpacking, biking and, in many places equestrian trail under construction in the Missouri Ozarks in the United States. Once completed, it is intended to reach from the Mississippi River at St. Louis to Arkansas. Over 350 miles (563 km) of the trail have been completed as of 2008, and the estimated length when finished will be at least 500 miles (805 km). When joined to the Ozark Highlands Trail in Arkansas, the full hiking distance from end to end will be at least 700 miles (1,127 km), not including a large loop through the St. Francois Mountains in south eastern Missouri.