On Tuesday, village officials in Ashwaubenon hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the new Ashwaubomay River Trail Bridge.

The bridge was designed by GRAEF and constructed by Michels Construction. It now connects the Ashwaubomay River Trail over Ashwaubenon Creek and lands in the new David L. and Rita E. Plaza on the north end of Ashwaubomay Park.

Local 5 News caught up with Rex Mehlberg, the village of Ashwaubenon’s director of parks, recreation, and forestry, to discuss the significance this bridge will bring to the community.

“The goal is to push it over into the Brown County Fairgrounds eventually,” stated Mehlberg. “The conceptualization for this bridge probably started 30 years ago, and it finally came to fruition when development occurred along the riverfront. Opportunities arose for us to put the trail in, and a big piece is the bridge.”

Mehlberg continued to tell Local 5 News that one of the biggest reasons the village wanted to install the bridge was to encourage people to walk toward the water.

“Ashwaubomay Park probably has at least 150,000 visitors per year due to the activities and events happening in the park, as well as the residents around Ashwaubenon and the Greater Green Bay community,” added Mehlberg. “This is a great opportunity because it’s right on the Fox River to open areas up again for people to walk and exercise, no matter their mobility.”

Village officials plan to continue the trail around Ashwaubomay Park within the next few years, eventually ending up at the Brown County Fairgrounds.