In 2004 Friends of Schell Bridge was formed as a private, non-profit, 501(c)3 corporation to advocate the rehabilitation and reopening of Schell Memorial Bridge for recreational and pedestrian use. FSB Vision: A
beautifully-restored historic bridge across the Connecticut River that
serves both as a premier recreational link for a network of hiking and
biking trails in the tri-state region and as a centerpiece for a series
of linked parks for Northfield and area residents.
FSB Mission: To
ensure the rehabilitation of
Schell Memorial Bridge through adequate funding, proper maintenance,
public support, and active promotion of its place in Northfield's
history and to encourage citizen enjoyment of the footpaths, bikeways,
and parks that connect to the bridge. These goals will be realized
through partnerships with local, state and federal government, local and
regional organizations and through the development of a conservancy
organization dedicated to the stewardship of the bridge and parks.
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The Strategic Plan
describes this vision and mission in more detail. Roughly speaking,
there are three general pieces to this puzzle.
First, the structure of the bridge must be
assessed as to what the rehabilitation options are from engineering and
cost perspectives, and a design chosen from these options; FSB is
working with engineering firms on this piece of the puzzle. Second, funds must be raised from state, federal,
and private sources for all phases of the engineering and subsequent
construction; FSB is currently planning fund-raising campaigns for the
first of these phases. Finally, FSB is
working on obtaining the requisite community support; the bridge is
owned by the town of Northfield, which voted in 1987 to remove the
bridge, and that decision needs to be withdrawn before rehabilitation
can proceed (or perhaps the bridge could be sold to a third party).
The
Tactical Plan
provides more detail on specific steps FSB is planning over the next
couple of years.
For more information
contact FSB
by mail: P.O. Box 27, Northfield, MA
01360
by
phone: 413-498-4364
by email: info@schellbridge.org
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FSB Board of Directors
elected by the membership
for three-year terms
William Austin
Craig Della Penna
Marie Booth Ferre
Stephen Martin
Jon McGowan
Barbara Richardson
Susan Ross
Donald Simms
Janice Starmer
Alexander Stewart
Peter Talmage
Steven Tower
Jean Wagener
Officers
elected annually by the board
President, Marie Ferre
Vice President, Susan Ross
Secretary, Barbara Richardson
Treasurer, Jerrold Wagener
FSB Bylaws
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