Flint, Michigan – Work is now moving forward on one of Richfield County Park’s most recognizable landmarks, as crews begin restoring the historic footbridge that has crossed the Flint River for generations.
According to Genesee County, the bridge, built in 1938 during a Depression-era Works Progress Administration effort, is more than a piece of park infrastructure. For many Genesee County families, it has become part of local memory. Its stone-faced concrete towers, cable design, and quiet setting over the river have made it one of the most popular places in the county for senior pictures and keepsake photos.
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But before it became a favorite backdrop, the bridge had a simple and important job: helping people move through the park. The suspension pedestrian bridge stretches about 90 feet across the Flint River, connecting the north and south sides of Richfield County Park for walkers and visitors exploring the 345-acre property off North Irish Road.
That connection is now the focus of the restoration effort. County leaders first moved the project forward through the Public Works Committee before the full board gave its approval last summer. The work is being handled by MIHM Enterprises, a Michigan-based company known for restoring historic landmarks.
The project aims to preserve the character of the bridge while keeping it useful for the people who rely on it today. Its towers and wire-cable design give it a look that stands apart from ordinary park crossings, and its place in the landscape has helped make it one of Richfield County Park’s most photographed features.
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For visitors, the restoration marks an important step in protecting a structure that has served both practical and sentimental purposes for nearly nine decades. It has carried footsteps, framed graduation photos, and linked two sides of a beloved county park through changing seasons and changing generations.
As the work continues, the bridge remains a reminder of how public spaces are shaped not only by trails, rivers, and trees, but also by the landmarks people return to again and again. At Richfield County Park, restoring the historic footbridge means preserving a crossing, a photo spot, and a small but lasting piece of Genesee County history.