Brookhaven Mayor John Ernst cut the ribbon to Murphey Candler Park’s brand new pedestrian bridge during a brief ceremony Nov. 22.

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Mayor John Ernst cheers after cutting the ribbon for the brand new Murphey Candler Park pedestrian bridge during a brief ceremony Nov. 22. Some people with him are, from left, Hamilton and Kristen Williams with their daughter, Ellie; Councilmember John Park; Ernst; Liz Cole of GreenbergFarrow; Councilmember Linley Jones; and Parks & Recreation Director Brian Borden. People standing in the back include Police Chief Gary Yandura, Assistant City Manager Steve Chapman, and Assistant Chief Juan Grullo. Click to enlarge. (Photo Dyana Bagby)

The old bridge was struck by a fallen tree last November and had to be replaced.

On Nov. 21, the city held a ribbon cutting for the new pedestrian bridge at Briarwood Park. Both projects were approved and funded by the City Council in January during his first meeting as mayor, Ernst noted at the Murphey Candler Park ceremony.

Total cost to repair the bridge was $309,740 with $100,000 of that total paid through an insurance claim.

The 120-foot long bridge at Murphey Candler Park weighs five tons and was delivered from Fort Payne, Ala. in August.

Councilmember Linley Jones, who represents District 1 that includes Murphey Candler Park, thanked staff and volunteers with the Murphey Candler Park Conservancy for their help in getting the new bridge installed. She also thanked Liz Cole of GreenbergFarrow, the company the city contracted with for its parks master plan.

Recent improvements at Murphey Candler Park include lake bank restoration where native plants will be planted in the near future to further enhance the park, Ernst said. He also announced that restoration of the lake’s bank extending from the fishing pier will be underway soon and is expected to be completed by spring.

Murphey Candler Park is is a 135-acre multi-use park and is the largest park in the city of Brookhaven, according the Murphey Candler Park Conservancy website.

Click on the first photo and then on the arrows quickly for a second-by-second reaction to the ribbon cutting.

Dyana Bagby is a staff writer for Reporter Newspapers and Atlanta Intown.

One reply on “Photos: Brookhaven celebrates new pedestrian bridge at Murphey Candler Park”

  1. We were heading out of town or I would have definitely been at the ceremony!!
    BTW, I was volunteering to help clean up the lake’s western shore this morning when we received a confirmed sighting of an otter in the lake–very good news!! That five foot tall beaver dam across the northern entry waterway to the lake must be doing its work–have seen several different types of wildlife appear recently after a long absence!! Hope that our new bridge becomes a symbol for other good things to come!! CONGRATULATIONS, BROOKHAVEN!!–Tom Reilly

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