Built in the 1930's Pamperin Park's suspension footbridge is getting a facelift. Drexel Building Supply and Toonen Properties donated the material to rehab the bridge. Students in NWTC's carpentry classes are doing the work. The bridge is closed Monday-Thursday for the next couple of weeks. PC: Fox 11 Online
BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A Brown County landmark is getting a facelift. The nearly 100-year-old suspension bridge at Pamperin Park in Howard and Hobart is undergoing a rehabilitation project.
Built in the 1930’s, the suspension foot bridge at Pamperin Park has been a special occasion destination for decades.
“A lot of people in the community have a big connection to this bridge. It’s very important to people. People got married here. People got crossed the engagement pictures at this bridge,” said Josh Schmitt Parks Field Manager in Brown County.
Andrew Ramirez said, “I came here a bunch of times throughout my lifetime. I took my senior pictures here when I graduated high school.”
And now Andrew Ramirez and his NWTC carpentry classmates are helping with the bridge’s rehabilitation.
“Mostly, I’m finding this project rather fun so far. It’s simple, yet also at the same time hard but that’s what makes it fun,” added carpentry student Eli Miller-Riesterer.
Over the years the bridge has experienced normal wear and tear.
According to Schmitt, “It’s getting a little bit old. It’s seen a couple of better days. So this is an opportunity for us to repair some of the structure that’s going to support the bridge for the next 20 years.”
The bridge closed to pedestrians Monday morning and the NWTC students got right to work.
Over the next couple of weeks, the students will work to replace the foot path and handrails — putting the skills they’ve learned in the classroom to work.
“It’s good to have hands-on experience and get out in the field and get “on the job” training rather than sitting in the classroom and learning it from a teacher point of view because it gives you a better understanding of what you’re actually doing when you can do it with your hands,” said Ramirez.
Materials for the project were donated by Drexel Building Supply, as well as Toonen Properties. NWTC students are supplying the labor.
And since the county doesn’t have to pay for the repairs, it’s truly a win for everyone.
“So this is just another building block to help them kind of set their foundation for what they continue to want to do in the future for their career. And the fact that they got a lot of the material donated too, it’s great for the Brown County Park too,” said Steve Awe, carpentry instructor at NWTC.
The project is expected to take a few weeks to complete.
County officials want people to know the bridge will be closed to foot traffic Monday through Thursday. But, as a popular picture destination, it will be open Friday, Saturday and Sunday for those looking to take pictures on it.
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