Boonville Bridge celebration a great success

Boonville Bridge, photo by LeftyJames, http://flickr.com/photos/leftyjames/178772421/

The Save the Katy Bridge Coalition sponsored its second annual Save the Katy Bridge Festival Sunday afternoon at the old Boonville Depot. Coalition president Paula Shannon estimated that close to 1,000 people attended the event. . . .

James Allen of Springfield, Mo. displayed his collection of antique bicycles. He had several "big wheel" bicycles as well as standard ones, many of which dated back to the late 1800s or early 1900s.

Shannon said the success of the festival demonstrates that "not only are we still alive and well but we are continuing to gain momentum."

For two years, the Boonville Lift Bridge has been at the center of a contentious ownership battle pitting politicians against politicians and a big money company against the interests of a small town. The fight over the bridge, referred to as the Katy Bridge by citizens who want to renovate it for pedestrian use as part of Katy Trail State Park, is still working its way through Missouri’s courts.