Open House for a new pedestrian bridge leaves Riverside Residents dissatisfied

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The Marion-Madison Connector project, years in the making, has now secured full funding, even as Riverside residents continue to voice strong opposition to a planned bridge connecting neighborhoods.

The city of South Bend hosted an open house at Howard Park for those residents to provide updates on the project, which includes construction of a pedestrian bridge.

“This whole project is completely funded,” said Tim Coran, the city’s director of planning. “The bridge has been awarded, and the manufacturer of the bridge itself starts in a few months.”

City officials said the meeting was intended to inform residents about next steps and address concerns. But several attendees said they expected a more interactive discussion rather than a presentation.

“We don’t know what they’re going to do,” said Catherine Hostetler, a resident of 50 years. “We thought we were going to have a meeting, and it’s just another presentation.”

Some residents said the open house added to long-standing frustrations over what they describe as a lack of meaningful engagement from the city.

“We have been dismissed, we haven’t been paid attention to,” said Michele Gelfman, a resident of 33 years.

City officials acknowledged ongoing concerns, including issues related to public safety. Coran said the city has taken resident feedback into account throughout the planning process.

Still, residents present at the open house said they have not seen those concerns reflected in the project’s design.

“Do you see them actually addressing the issue? Absolutely not,” Gelfman said.

Opponents of the bridge say it could bring unwanted traffic and crime into the historic Riverside neighborhood, as well as alter its character. Gelfman pointed to past break-ins and expressed concern that a lit, 12-foot-wide bridge could exacerbate those issues.

“This has no place,” she said. “This is a bridge to nowhere.”

Despite the criticism, the Marion-Madison Connector project is expected to be completed in 2027, according to city officials.