Metroparks seeks public input and grants to repair or relocate historic covered bridge

Zeb Aka, director of planning for Metroparks of Butler County, briefed Morgan Township trustees and residents during public comment on Oct. 27 about structural concerns with the covered bridge at Governor Bev Metropark and a public survey Metroparks will release to inform grant applications.

Aka said the bridge was reconstructed at the Governor Bev location in 1970 and that volunteer repairs and weathering over 55 years have left it in need of “serious rehabilitation.” Metroparks has shored three of four piers and is seeking grant money; Aka said the first grant application — to the Land and Water Conservation Fund administered by the National Park Service — is due Nov. 14.

Consultants provided preliminary estimates: keeping the bridge intact and rehabilitating it in place could cost roughly $1.4 million to $1.7 million, while moving the bridge to Indian Creek Metropark and completing a new Indian Creek crossing could total a higher figure because it would combine two projects. Metroparks said relocation could be cheaper in aggregate because it would address two needs at once (rehab plus a bridge at Indian Creek).

Aka described plans for an online public survey that will ask basic questions and collect ZIP codes so Metroparks can filter responses from Morgan Township residents. He told trustees that rebuilding at either site would be for pedestrian use only to preserve the structure. Metroparks has not reached a decision and seeks public input to guide its grant application and design work.

Trustees and residents asked about cost, historic ties to Morgan Township and whether any rebuilt bridge would carry vehicles. Aka said the pedestrian reopening would preserve the span for another 50 years and noted that Metroparks will use public comment, ZIP code data and consultant estimates when finalizing funding requests.