Schmitz Park Bridge Explained

Bridge Name:	Schmitz Park Bridge
Engineering:	Clark Eldridge
Length:	175-foot (53 m)
Complete:	1936
Extra:	Embed: yes Schmitz Park Bridge Designated Other1: Seattle Landmark Designated Other1 Date: December 28, 1981^[1] Location: Spans Schmitz Park Ravine, Seattle, Washington Coordinates: 47.5772°N -122.4022°W Architect: Clark Eldridge Mahoney, J. Architecture: Art Deco, rigid frame bridge Added: July 16, 1982 Refnum: 82004247

The Schmitz Park Bridge is a 175feet concrete-box bridge that spans a ravine in Seattle's Schmitz Park. Built in 1936, the structure is both listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is a designated city landmark.^{[2] [3]}

The bridge was designed by city engineer Clark Eldridge. It replaced a timber-truss span that had been erected in 1916.^[4] The funds were provided by the federal Public Works Administration and by local gas-tax and highway funds. The rigid frame created by the concrete box cells made the structure 60 percent longer than any such bridge previously constructed.^{[5] [6]}

The graffiti artwork underneath the bridge has received praise in C-Monster's art blog and from a critic with the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.^[7]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Landmarks and Designation. City of Seattle. 2013-03-05.
2. Book: National Register of Historic Places; Annual Listing of Historic Properties (Part II). March 1, 1983. National Park Service. 8669.
3. Web site: Individual Landmarks. City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods. March 25, 2011.
4. Book: West Seattle. 2010. Arcadia Publishing. 978-0-7385-8133-0. 55.
5. Encyclopedia: Long. Priscilla. Schmitz Park Bridge in West Seattle is completed in December 1936.. HistoryLink.org Online Encyclopedia of Washington State History. December 23, 2007. March 1, 2011.
6. Whipple. Harvey. Concrete. 1937. 47. 340.
7. News: Blooming Concrete. March 27, 2011. Seattle Post-intelligencer. May 14, 2008.