Riverbanks Zoo’s new pedestrian bridge lauded for safety, convenience

Jessica Sandler brings her young children to Riverbanks Zoo quite often. In the past, she sometimes would have to push a stroller and juggle bags, all while ushering her children over railroad tracks to get from a parking lot to the zoo.

Never again.

Thanks to the Richland County Transportation Penny Fund, Sandler and the 1 million other annual visitors to Riverbanks can now access the zoo more safely and conveniently. A 115-foot pedestrian bridge connects the recently added 500-car north parking lot to the zoo, spanning 25-feet over the CSX railroad tracks.

The 2 1/2 story CSX Pedestrian Bridge was officially unveiled Sept. 7 during a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by approximately 100 people, including Richland County council members and Riverbanks’ commissioners.

It is a very big deal, said Rob Perry, Richland County’s transportation director. “Mothers and fathers and grandparents were pushing strollers over the train tracks,” Perry said. “Not only does the pedestrian bridge increase safety, it also helps get people in and out quicker.”

That is definitely a big positive, Sandler said.
“It’s really nice,” she said. “Now, if I have to park there (in the North lot) I can walk right over.”

The bridge, which uses the same stacked stone and colors of the new Riverbanks entrance, brings visitors to within a few feet of the front gates.

“We purposely used many of the same building materials in the bridge design in order to compliment the (zoo) entrance,” said Satch Krantz, Riverbanks Zoo and Garden president and CEO.