A footbridge linking Salem's Riverfront Park with Minto-Brown Island Park is a step closer to becoming a reality.

Salem City Council on Monday night voted unanimously to advance a longtime plan to build a bicycle and pedestrian bridge that would connect the two parks.

"I think it's an important connection that will improve the liveability of our community, that will serve not just as recreation for people who live here," said Ward 4 Councilor T.J. Sullivan, "but it's going to act as a beacon for tourists who want to come here to be involved in bike races and marathons."

South Salem High School freshman Mark Crutchfield, 15, attended the council meeting to show his support for the potential bridge.

"I'm with Boy Scouts Troop 108 in Salem, and we do outings like bike trips to Minto-Brown," the teen said. "The bridge would be very nice because it would give us alternate routes to get there."

His mother, Janise Munos, agreed.

"Being able to walk to Minto Park would be awesome," she said.

Five residents spoke in favor of the bridge.

Betsy Belshaw, a longtime Salem parks activitist, was the only one who spoke against the bridge.

"We have to think about some problems it would cause at Minto Park," she told the council. "It's now become a NASCAR for bike people. We need to think about building speed bumps at the park."

During the meeting, councilors directed city staff to work out a deal with Capt. Richard Chesbrough, owner of the Willamette Queen to allow placement of a low clearance bridge.

Chesbrough previously had expressed concerns that a low bridge would bar him from navigating the slough.

"Just don't build a bridge that's too low," Chesbrough told the Statesman Journal.

Councilors also asked city staffer to execute an application to the U.S. Coast Guard for a preliminary determination on appropriate clearance height for the proposed bridge.

Officials have said a higher bridge clearance would cost an addition $2 million.

Earlier this month, Chesbrough submitted a letter to officials saying he was willing to negotiate a deal that would involve the city purchasing the Willamette Queen.The deal would "eliminate the need to spend the millions more to construct a bridge high enough to insure navigational clearance during high water periods," Chesbrough and his wife, Barbara wrote.


Chesbrough also wrote that he and his wife would be willing to enter into a management agreement with the City that would enable his and his wife to continue to operate the the 87-foot, 86-ton sternwheeler.

The bridge has been a vision of the city and community for more than three decades. It would span the Willamette River Slough from the south end of Riverfront Park to the north end of Minto Park.

The proposed 350-foot-long bridge is a key element of the Salem Vision 2020 Action Plan.

It and the historic Union Street Railroad Bridge combined would connect more than 1,036 acres of parklands and 21 miles of trails, officials with the city's urban development department said.

The grand opening of the Union Street Railroad Bridge is set for April 18.

If approved, the proposed footbridge could take from three to five years to construct. Cost of the project — including design, regulatory agency permits and construction — is estimated between $4 million and $8 million.

The city plans to pay for the bridge with state, federal and urban renewal funds, as well as private donations.