New Bridge at Veterans Park Opens the Way to Play

NEWCASTLE, OKLA. (June 18, 2025) – Visitors to Newcastle’s Veterans Park now have a new way to connect with nature and each other — a pedestrian bridge that spans the park’s largest pond.

“This bridge isn’t just a way to get from one side of the pond to the other — it’s a symbol of where we’re headed as a community,” said Jeanette McNally, Assistant City Manager. “We’re investing in projects that make Newcastle more accessible, more beautiful, and more family-friendly.”

The 60-foot-long, 10-foot-wide structure is built from self-weathering steel, giving it a natural, rustic look that blends with the park’s landscape while holding up to Oklahoma weather. The concrete deck offers a solid walking surface, and while it’s built for pedestrians, it’s also strong enough to handle light maintenance vehicles when needed.

The bridge is part of a larger expansion of the Veterans Park pond area, all of which is guided by Newcastle’s Master Park Plan — a long-term blueprint for improving public green spaces. Recent projects already completed under the plan include new trails, additional parking, modern restrooms, a splash pad, and even a seasonal snow hill.

“We’re thinking about how families use this space year-round,” McNally said. “Whether it’s summer afternoons by the splash pad or quiet walks around the pond, this park is growing into something really special.”

And there’s more to come. Projects in the pipeline include a new pavilion with restrooms, additional parking north of the pond, and a dedicated fishing dock — all designed to make Veterans Park a destination for residents of all ages.

The bridge was fabricated by Contech Engineered Solutions, a nationwide provider of infrastructure products, using a proven truss design commonly found in parks and trails across the country. While the city emphasized strength and longevity, aesthetics were equally important.

“We wanted something that would last for decades and also look like it belongs here,” McNally added. “This bridge does exactly that.”