Begin your journey through the covered bridge and into Pondicherry Park. Take that first step into the bridge’s cool shadows that will deliver you to the quiet of Pondicherry Park. Run your hands over the rich craftsmanship, whimsical carvings, and native woods. Feel the comforting embrace of the boat-like structure as the wind passes through the sturdy railing. Stroll along, glimpsing the leaves floating in the stream below. Thoughts of what the world was like in earlier times enrich your experience of the present.
Join us in our fundraising efforts to build this gateway bridge into Pondicherry Park. The Bob Dunning Memorial Bridge will be located off Depot Street, between the Magic Lantern and Community Center. Carrying visitors from downtown Bridgton over Stevens Brook, it will serve as the main entrance into Pondicherry Park. The covered bridge will be a destination unto itself, a welcoming entry into nature and history.
The bridge will be a memorial to Bob Dunning, a preservation craftsman and environmental advocate who passed away in November of 2007. The design and construction of this 60-foot New England style bridge is being led by Bob Dunning’s friends and peers. Their stunningly beautiful design grew out of a thoughtful process based on love for a man and the Lakes Region.
