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Stone Bridges project raises $115,000; committee plans Lookout Bridge work next month
Summary
Beth Casper, chair of the Stone Bridges project, told the Montreat committee the group has raised $115,000 in seven months and plans to begin structural repairs on the Lookout at Assembly Drive bridge within weeks; the full program could total about $600,000, she said.
Beth Casper, chair of the Stone Bridges project, described the committee's plan to restore pedestrian stone bridges damaged during Storm Helene and to recapture a historic stone aesthetic. "I'm Beth Casper, and I am the chair of the Stone Bridges project," she told attendees, and said the committee has completed phase 1 structural assessment and "so far, we've raised, in 7 months, a $115,000."
Casper named masonry expert Randy Colafield of Simply Stone and said Barry Kreesman will supervise the work with Savannah Parrish as a supervisor contact. She said the committee plans to reuse stones salvaged by storm damage where feasible and will not source material from creek beds so as to avoid harming aquatic life. Casper estimated individual bridge costs ranging from roughly $30,000 to $100,000 and characterized the overall program as likely to be about $600,000.
The committee plans a groundbreaking for the first bridge — identified as Lookout at Assembly Drive — soon, followed by a ribbon cutting after final inspection. Casper said the project will be community funded and that the committee will reach out to the college, the Presbyterian Heritage Center and other partners for contributions.
