History, civic pride and modern engineering all culminated in restoring the nearly 100-year-old Millpond Bridge in Ozark, Mo. Nestled by the Finley River, Ozark is a testament to the balance between preserving the past and embracing the future.

According to Public Works Director Jeremy Parsons, the town of 22,000 faced a challenge in addressing the historic Millpond Bridge. An iconic yet aging structure, it had long physical and emotional connections with the community. Built to accommodate one-way traffic but eventually bearing the weight of two-way flow, the bridge’s limitations became increasingly apparent in recent years.

“It was an antiquated piece of infrastructure. It was not built to carry the typical weight of cars these days. So, when we started looking at this, we determined it was no longer fulfilling the goals that we’d like it to fulfill.”

Divided into five phases, the first leg meant the road had to be closed in December 2022. The intersection of North Third Street and McCracken Road was revamped, incorporating safety features such as new intersection approaches, striped turn lanes, directional islands and improved signage. The project was unveiled at a groundbreaking ceremony in October 2023.

Despite the complexities and the extensive timeline, success came from its multifaceted approach. Eventually, the iconic bridge was restored, with improvements on Jackson Street and other areas to bolster overall access.

The project gained momentum through a collaborative vision led by Finley Farms, a commercial mixed-use development. According to Parsons, the initiative aimed not only to preserve the historical integrity of the bridge but also to enhance its functionality and integrate it into a broader plan for community connectivity and nature.

“One of our key missions here was making this a walkable area, creating a pedestrian-first environment,” Parsons said. “This means giving the pedestrian the priority because we want people to come down here and linger and enjoy it. And it’s becoming a piece of eco-tourism: You can see historical sites when hanging out by the river.”

Of course, all of this came with a steep cost. Parsons said it was also a multifaceted funding strategy that helped to ease the financial burden. The project was funded through a collaborative effort between the city of Ozark, Ozark Special Road District, Christian County, the state of Missouri and mixed-use development Finley Farms.

“You’ve got a pie that goes from one person paying for that pie to five people paying for that pie,” he said about the investment. “The more, the merrier when it comes to spreading the tab.”

The bold move has paid dividends. Ozarks welcomes thousands a year through various events that encourage pedestrian transit. In Parsons’ estimation, this project has created a robust master plan centered around pedestrian connectivity.

Speaking of connection, a comprehensive communications strategy was instrumental in keeping the public informed and engaged during all stages of the project. Regular updates through social media and dedicated web pages, along with detailed explanations of each phase and its challenges, ensured that the community was not just a spectator but an active participant in the transformation.

Parsons said this openness built trust and turned potential critics into supporters.

“It meant basically pulling back the curtain and saying, ‘There’s nothing to hide here. Look at what we’re doing. We’re doing X, Y and Z, which is why we’re doing it,’” he said. “We had a few naysayers, but ultimately, the public was supportive.”

Since the success of the bridge restoration initiative, Parsons said the city has set its sights on future endeavors. The same spirit of preservation and improvement is being channeled into projects such as a proposal to transform the Green Bridge into a pedestrian and bicycle path.

This ongoing commitment to enhancing the city’s infrastructure in a meaningful way is a boon in the economic development department.

“People come here because of the natural beauty and the connection to the outdoors,” he said. “We want to provide a city and municipality that offers those types of experiences because we truly believe that if you’re offering those types of amenities for your citizens, you’re going to create a citizenship that’s more invested and involved in your community.”

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