Denton Road-Sparks Foundation Park Pond Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Denton Road-Sparks Foundation Park Pond Bridge
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The replacement 2007 bridge, visually similar to the original
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| Location | Denton Rd. over Sparks Foundation Park Pond, Jackson, Michigan |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1931 |
| Architect | Michigan State Highway Department |
| Architectural style | Steel I-Beam Stringer |
| Demolished | 2007 |
| MPS | Highway Bridges of Michigan MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 99001676 |
| Added to NRHP | January 28, 2000 |
The Denton Road-Sparks Foundation Park Pond Bridge is a road bridge in Jackson, Michigan. It carries Denton Road over a pond in Sparks Foundation Park. The first bridge was built around 1931 and was important enough to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000. However, this original bridge was taken down and a new one, looking very similar, was built in its place in 2007.
Why Was the Denton Road Bridge Built?
A kind couple named William and Matilda Sparks wanted to create a fun place for people to relax in Jackson. They started the William and Matilda Sparks Foundation to build a park near their home. This park was finished in 1931. It had a big, beautiful fountain as its main attraction.
Around the same time, the Michigan State Highway Department designed a special bridge. This bridge was meant to help visitors get from the south side of Jackson into the new park. The design of the bridge matched the other buildings and features in the park perfectly.
In 1944, the Sparks family gave the park to the county to manage. The bridge continued to be used for many years. In 2007, the old bridge was taken down. A new bridge, which looks very much like the original, was built to replace it.
What Did the Original Bridge Look Like?
The first Denton Road bridge was made of steel and concrete. It had a single steel I-beam stringer, which is a strong support beam. The bridge was 23 feet long and 32 feet wide. It had a roadway that was 23.2 feet wide, with sidewalks on both sides for people to walk on.
The sides of the bridge had concrete railings. These railings curved away from the main bridge at the ends. There were also fancy light poles at each corner. The bases of these light poles even had a small "Westinghouse" logo carved into them.
The bridge that stands there today looks very similar to the old one. However, the new bridge is built using a different method called a "box beam bridge."
