Woodbridge illuminates its bridge for all to admire

By Don Bradley

Nobody seems to know for sure when the wooden bridge at Woodbridge was built, but a bunch of folks might remember the night the lights came on.

They bundled up, made their way to the old bridge, listened to a short speech, cheered and clapped when somebody flipped a switch and fancy new lights came on and a guy on a saxophone busted out “I Can See Clearly Now.”

About 50 people showed up. That’s not bad for a chilly Thursday night.

The story goes that the old bridge might be the only covered wooden bridge in the Kansas City area.

“I’m really glad they got the ball rolling and got it done,” said longtime resident Don Sanders.

New walkways, new railings and, most of all, new LED lighting. Price tag: $30,000. The lights shine dusk to dawn.

Most of the money, $20,000, came from an empowerment grant through Kansas City’s Neighborhood Services Department. The Woodbridge Homes Association came up with the rest.

The work started in July on the 50-foot long span.

Sanders was one of the first residents to move out to the subdivision between Holmes and Wornall roads just north of Blue Ridge. That was more than a half-century ago. Cattle grazed where homes and businesses stand now.

A flyer for the new development touted: “You’ll be reminded of the days of covered bridges and shaded country lanes.”

Over time, the development grew to 275 homes. And the bridge at the heart of it grew old.

Not structurally. The giant timbers still look like they could hold up a continent. It was the walkways and handrails that showed age. Loose flooring, exposed nails, shaky grips.

So the residents decided it was time to make some improvements. And while at it, add the lighting.

The Woodbridge board submitted an Empowerment Grant request to the city in January. One of the goals of the grants is to “promote neighborhood identity.”

The old bridge certainly does that, and the Woodbridge application turned out to be one of 25 winners of the $20,000 grants.

“We believe it might be the only one like it in the Kansas City area which makes it one-of-a-kind and worth preserving,” said board member Kathy Cipolla.

She said the neighborhood is so well known for dog walking that people from other subdivisions come to Woodbridge, but because of the deterioration of the walkways, many had to walk in the street.

The bridge was also a dark stretch and the new lighting does provide a bit better security.

The morning after the lighting event, a man who lives in the house closest to the bridge, came out to retrieve his trash bin only to discover that the truck had missed him.

Oh well, he offered some thoughts about the bridge.

“I’ve lived here 38 years and I remember when it was a natural stream that flowed under the bridge,” he said. “Now it’s built pretty much for just storm water.”

He said he recommended that a light be put high on the bridge to light the street, but that was rejected because it would not fit the historic charm.

“I get it,” he said. “Glad they did what they did.”

Editors Note: The bridge is located near 527 Woodbridge Ln. Thanks to our readers who called asking the exact location to see the lights.