CLEVELAND, Ohio - We spent several weeks profiling each of the bridges in Cleveland's bicentennial lighting project from 1996. At the beginning of our Bridges of the Crooked River project we examined whether the bridges should be relit and we surveyed civic leaders. Here's how they remember what went on at the time of the bridge-lighting while pondering the future:
Dave Abbott
Executive director of The George Gund Foundation and executive director of the Cleveland Bicentennial Commission for the 1996 lighting.
On memories of '96: "That was my life for four years. The bicentennial was July 22. We did a New Year's Eve kickoff party on Public Square, we did a big three-day celebration in the Flats and a homecoming parade in the fall at Thanksgiving. There was a parade of illuminated boats. GE Lighting acted as kind of a sponsor of the lighting ceremony. Bob Hope was the grand marshal of the parade of boats. He and this little girl pulled a ceremonial switch to turn the bridges on, and as they did that a real switch was turned on. They don't go on as a light bulb in your house; it sort of ramps up. That was fun, Bob Hope coming home to Cleveland.
Dave Abbott, shown in the Flats in 1996.
"We had a very big successful party all week in the Flats. It culminated with the (Cleveland) Orchestra performing on the Nautica stage, facing the river. The other side of the river was full of people, and boats were on the river, and we had fireworks."
On the work: Ross (De Alessi, the designer) developed a drawing on what each bridge would look like. In '94 we did a mockup. Ross came up and did a temporary lighting to show what the Detroit-Superior, Center Street Swing Bridge and Bascule near Powerhouse would look like, and we did a boat ride with potential funders. Someone came up with the idea to call it 'City of Bridges.' The mockup was a key thing to show people what it looked like. ... It was one of many projects of the bicentennial. The arts committee came up with lighting the bridges. It was conceived of as an art project."
On the challenges: "We had multiple owners, people were saying 'How are we going to pay for it, maintain it? Each owner was a different story. But Conrail (railroad company) had a board member from Cleveland, and they contributed $100,000 to the cost. ... Everything the bicentennial commission did was always complicated because we did it under a deadline that was way too tight, but everyone pulled together because it was the bicentennial. ... Not every thing turned out to be feasible - vibrations from train traffic, costs and other things. We wanted to focus on the areas most visible. At the time there was a lot of activities in the Flats. Then the Flats died, and are continuing to come back."
Joe Cimperman, right, with Mayor Jackson. Cimperman's district encompasses the bridges of the bicentennial project.
Joe Cimperman
The bridges fall under Cimperman's council jurisdiction.
"I was running for council. I had come back to Cleveland and thinking about becoming a Jesuit priest. Some buddies said 'let's go down there.' Mayor White comes there with full security detail. Gov. George Voinovich was there. (Dennis) Kucinich came down there in black jeans. I thought 'what could bring people together like this?' It clearly attracts people."
On efforts today to have another lighting project: "There are couple of things. When that was happening - and I say this very respectively - but at that point we didn't realize it at the time but the Flats were in a descent. The homogenization of bar, bar, bar clearly isn't a sustainable model. Now, you've got the Flats' resurgence. ...
I just don't think it would be as hard. The first time we were somewhat in the dark.
It's not like you have to redo each one. I think it's that spur from Dave Grunenwald and Jacobs (Investments) and (developer) Scott Wolstein in the Flats. That could get this done. This is something that can get done.
"I would be 100 percent supportive to celebrate our historical past in an artistic way."
Gilbert.
David Gilbert
President and CEO of Greater Cleveland Sports Commission and Destination Cleveland, the region's convention and visitors bureau. He released a statement:
"Lighting the bridges in celebration of Cleveland's bicentennial was a terrific example of community collaboration to showcase our city in the best manner possible for such a special occasion. We encourage all creative efforts that contribute to Cleveland putting its best foot forward, especially while the eyes of the world are on us as we host the 2016 Republican National Convention."
Marinucci.
Joe Marinucci
President and CEO, non-profit Downtown Cleveland Alliance.
On the original lighting: "It was a celebration of the city. I thought the strategy of lighting the bridges was great. I remember when they were lit; it was a very iconic representation of the city of Cleveland - as you know, they represent our heritage.
... Given our history, I think the bridges were beautiful. ... I remember when we did the ceremonies back in '96. Visually, it was stunning. It would be a lot of fun to work out a target to achieve that goal."
On the future:
"The technology has improved significantly since 20 years ago. I thought they could be relit. ... As an example, the Terminal Tower went through an LED lighting installation a number of years ago. The lighting has been a great addition to downtown. If there is a way for us to come together in the community, it would be of great value. ...There are nuances in terms of ownership - some are publicly held, some are privately held, so there would need to be due diligence to accomplish the goal. ... Having those relit would probably be the best (objective) for them. I don't know what else you could do with them, to be honest."