To the Editor,

I don’t live in town anymore, but I have been following the news about the pedestrian bridge removal in Sandy Hook with a bit of a heavy heart. The bridge over the Pootatuck River did so much more than connect the two sides of Sandy Hook center away from the traffic: it was a centerpiece of the community. It is where my husband and I took our engagement photos, a seemingly perfect view of the river’s incredible beauty. At Christmas time, business owners would adorn its sides in lights, adding to the season’s beauty and magic. I’ve pushed children in strollers and adults in wheelchairs over that bridge: all ages appreciating the view it offered.

Practically speaking, it made walking around Sandy Hook to enjoy the villages’ shops and restaurants easier and more fun. As more and more housing is being constructed in Sandy Hook village, the pedestrian bridge provides an incredible opportunity to increase business in the area by increasing foot traffic. While it appears right now that there is no funding for its replacement, I am hopeful that town leaders, SHOP, and others will be able to work together and develop a plan for its replacement. It is the perfect bridge for the village I was so lucky to call home for so long, and I hope that it will return for future generations.

Sincerely,

Sarah Taylor

Meriden