Politics & Government

New Bellevue Botanical Garden Footbridge Spans Forested Ravine

The new pedestrian suspension bridge hangs over a ravine in the Bellevue Botanical Garden, immersing visitors in the sights and smells of a forested area in the middle of the city.

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Bellevue Botanical Garden will debut its newest feature on Sunday: A pedestrian bridge over a wooded ravine.

The bridge will give visitors an intimate view of the plants, wildlife and forest canopy in the wooded ravine, according to a press release from the city.

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"That will give them an opportunity see what an intact, about 100-year-old, native forest looks like, smells like," said David Ketter, president of the PJA Foundation,Β which donated $506,000 to the project.Β 

Ketter was interviewed for a video about the ravine that was broadcast on Bellevue TV. You can watch the video of the interview embedded with this story.

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The trail, called "The Ravine Experience," includes the 150-foot-long, 5-foot-wide bridge and a one-third mile nature trail that completes the Garden's Ravine Trail Loop, according to the city.

The project was finished this spring with funding from the 2008 Parks and Natural Areas Levy and the donation from The PJA Foundation. The Ravine Experience occupies a section of property acquired with the help of a 2005 King County Conservation Futures grant, accoring to the city press release.

The bridge was designed by Sahale LLC and Michael Roberts; Seattle Bridge and JEM construction built the bridge, according to the city.

If you go

The ribbon cutting will be at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, and will be followed by a Mother's Day Social at the Shorts Visitor Center, 1 to 4 p.m., with light refreshments and music by Interlake High School.

The ribbon cutting will take place rain or shine, so visitors are asked to dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes.

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