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The Pink Bridge of Huntington, West Virginia is a concrete arch bridge spanning Four Pole Creek at 8th Street that was painted pink during late October to mid November 2006 to raise awareness of breast cancer.
The project began October 25, 2006 [1] when Jason Sansom of Barboursville, West Virginia began painting the 12th Street bridge, a smaller concrete span, pink. Originally ordered to stop by the Greater Huntington Park and Recreation District, they agreed to let Sansom finish the pink bridge painting project and then repaint it white.[1][2]
Controversyedit
The bridge was denounced by the city council on November 10, however, Huntington Mayor David Felinton agreed to let Sansom continue to paint the span. The City Council then adopted a resolution by a seven to four margin that declared the painting of the bridge a defacement of public property and requested that the mayor ask Sansom to end the painting project.[3] It also required that steps be taken for the pink paint to be removed. Felinton ignored the resolution.[4][5]
The bridge was vandalized on the night of November 10.[6][7][8][9] White and blue paint decorated the pink span.
Sansom, who had partially completed the painting of the bridge by Friday, resumed Sunday despite strong opposition from residents of the city and city council.[4] Many complained that there was a lack of the environmental permit necessary to paint any highway span, especially one owned by the West Virginia Department of Transportation. Sansom also lacked permission from the historic preservation commission, and questions have been raised as to whether the city could be held liable in a lawsuit.[3]
Further eventsedit
On November 13, David Pelfrey requested permission from the mayor to paint a bridge in Ritter Park red to raise awareness about lung cancer. The Mayor said that he was "open to the idea" and would "help find a bridge to paint." Pelfrey, who had no intention of painting any span red, was mocking the nearby pink span. Pelfrey publicly stated that if granted permission, he wanted to paint the Ritter Park bridge white, its original color, so that it is the most "aesthetically pleasing for the residential neighborhood" and park. He also stated that he does not support painting a bridge "obscene colors just to draw attention to something". He continued by saying that if one wanted to paint a bridge, it should be a color that is the most harmonious with the surroundings, and that a sign should be placed supporting the cause.[4]
The 8th Street bridge painting project was completed on November 18.[10] Sansom, who insists that the bridge will remain pink throughout 2007, is planning to author a book with the proceeds being donated to breast cancer awareness.
The bridge returned to white paint in May 2009.[11]
^"W.Va. Residents See Red Over Pink Bridge." ABC News. 7 Nov. 2006. 20 Nov. 2006 [9].
^Gensler, Rachel. "Paint job completed on 8th Street bridge." 19 Nov. 2006 Herald-Dispatch [Huntington]. 20 Nov. 2006 [10].
^"Controversial Pink Bridge to be Painted White". WSAZ-TV. 2009-05-04. Retrieved 2009-05-07.
March 16, 2024
pink, bridge, this, article, need, rewritten, comply, with, wikipedia, quality, standards, help, talk, page, contain, suggestions, 2020, huntington, west, virginia, concrete, arch, bridge, spanning, four, pole, creek, street, that, painted, pink, during, late,. This article may need to be rewritten to comply with Wikipedia s quality standards You can help The talk page may contain suggestions May 2020 The Pink Bridge of Huntington West Virginia is a concrete arch bridge spanning Four Pole Creek at 8th Street that was painted pink during late October to mid November 2006 to raise awareness of breast cancer 8th street bridgeThe Pink Bridge in Ritter Park Coordinates38 24 24 N 82 26 30 W 38 406712 N 82 441733 W 38 406712 82 441733Carries8th StreetCrossesFourpole CreekLocaleHuntington West VirginiaLocationExternal imagehttps www flickr com photos wvagent 3503338743 Contents 1 History 1 1 Founding 1 2 Controversy 1 3 Further events 2 ReferencesHistory editFounding edit The project began October 25 2006 1 when Jason Sansom of Barboursville West Virginia began painting the 12th Street bridge a smaller concrete span pink Originally ordered to stop by the Greater Huntington Park and Recreation District they agreed to let Sansom finish the pink bridge painting project and then repaint it white 1 2 Controversy edit The bridge was denounced by the city council on November 10 however Huntington Mayor David Felinton agreed to let Sansom continue to paint the span The City Council then adopted a resolution by a seven to four margin that declared the painting of the bridge a defacement of public property and requested that the mayor ask Sansom to end the painting project 3 It also required that steps be taken for the pink paint to be removed Felinton ignored the resolution 4 5 The bridge was vandalized on the night of November 10 6 7 8 9 White and blue paint decorated the pink span Sansom who had partially completed the painting of the bridge by Friday resumed Sunday despite strong opposition from residents of the city and city council 4 Many complained that there was a lack of the environmental permit necessary to paint any highway span especially one owned by the West Virginia Department of Transportation Sansom also lacked permission from the historic preservation commission and questions have been raised as to whether the city could be held liable in a lawsuit 3 Further events edit On November 13 David Pelfrey requested permission from the mayor to paint a bridge in Ritter Park red to raise awareness about lung cancer The Mayor said that he was open to the idea and would help find a bridge to paint Pelfrey who had no intention of painting any span red was mocking the nearby pink span Pelfrey publicly stated that if granted permission he wanted to paint the Ritter Park bridge white its original color so that it is the most aesthetically pleasing for the residential neighborhood and park He also stated that he does not support painting a bridge obscene colors just to draw attention to something He continued by saying that if one wanted to paint a bridge it should be a color that is the most harmonious with the surroundings and that a sign should be placed supporting the cause 4 The 8th Street bridge painting project was completed on November 18 10 Sansom who insists that the bridge will remain pink throughout 2007 is planning to author a book with the proceeds being donated to breast cancer awareness The bridge returned to white paint in May 2009 11 References edit a b Pinkston Antwon Man asked to repaint pink bridge 25 Oct 2006 Herald Dispatch Huntington 14 Nov 2006 1 Pink Bridge NBC WVVA Bluefield 20 Nov 2006 2 a b Rutherford Tony Paint a Bridge Pink in Honor of Breast Cancer Awareness 10 Nov 2006 Huntington News 14 Nov 2006 3 a b c Chambers Bryan Mayor receives another request to paint a bridge 14 Nov 2006 Herald Dispatch Huntington 14 Nov 2006 4 West Virginia Town Unhappy with Pink Bridge By Kristin Murdock Weekend Edition Sunday NPR 19 Nov 2006 20 Nov 2006 5 Chambers Bryan Pink bridge vandalized 10 Nov 2006 Herald Dispatch Huntington 14 Nov 2006 6 Huntington s Pink Bridge Defaced CBS News WOWK Charleston 10 Nov 2006 20 Nov 2006 7 Vandals Hit Huntington s Pink Bridge NBC News WSAZ Huntington 10 Nov 2006 20 Nov 2006 8 W Va Residents See Red Over Pink Bridge ABC News 7 Nov 2006 20 Nov 2006 9 Gensler Rachel Paint job completed on 8th Street bridge 19 Nov 2006 Herald Dispatch Huntington 20 Nov 2006 10 Controversial Pink Bridge to be Painted White WSAZ TV 2009 05 04 Retrieved 2009 05 07 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pink Bridge amp oldid 960333502, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
