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Community

Sylvan Island's New Bridge Officially Opens

"It's all yours," said Moline Mayor Stephanie Acri, as she officially opened the new bridge to Sylvan Island.

The Parks and Recreation Department held a ribbon-cutting on Thursday morning for the new bridge, which allows visitors to access the park by foot and bike for the first time in more than four years.

It stands at the site of the former pedestrian bridge, which the city closed in early 2013 and subsequently demolished because it was too dangerous to cross.

A few dozen spectators attended Thursday's ceremony, including members of Friends of Off Road Cycling (FORC), a group whose volunteers helped slash away weeds and wild plants to reestablish the park's renowned off-road bike trails.

Four miles of bike trails are already cleared for public use, according to FORC volunteer Ray Nees.

"The trails are a little bit soft, which means if you've never ridden soft trails, you're going to have to push a little harder," said Nees. "But these trails pack down fast, and I anticipate by this weekend, these trails are going to be just as fast and flowy and fun as they ever were."

Also in attendance at Thursday's ceremony was former Augustana College geography professor Norm Moline, who said that countless Quad Citians enjoyed the park for decades, until there was no way to get there except by boat.

"Fishermen, hikers, and runners, and off-road bikers used it regularly and were very disappointed when the old bridge was closed," said Moline. "But now, we have a new bridge, and all of the good things about Sylvan Island can be enjoyed again."

It was Moline and his students who, in 1970, formally recommended to the city that Sylvan Island be developed into a combination nature, fishing, and historical park.

"That combination, plus biking trails, have remained the core traits of the island.," said Moline, addressing a crowd of a few dozen citizens and city staff. "For all of those of us who have worked for 47 years on this place, this really is an exciting day."

The bridge project cost more than $1 million, and was paid for largely with state and federal grants.

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