Business Spotlight: Bridge of Flowers
Writer / Julie Yates
Photographer / Whitney Moore
When the Logan Street Bridge renovations were completed in 2020, Noblesville residents were pleased to see the project included
pedestrian sidewalks on either side. A bonus was a 150-foot gathering space that overlooked the river along the south side of the bridge. It met the need for a safe pathway from the Hamilton County Courthouse to Federal Hill Commons.
Today the south side of the bridge is much more than a secure sidewalk. Thanks to an idea initiated by Dick Gordon and a combined partnership between the City of Noblesville and Hamilton County, plus donations from local businesses and community members, it is now a beautiful linear park for the public to enjoy. It began when Gordon’s daughter, Sylvia, saw The Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts.
“I thought it would be a great idea for the Logan Street Bridge,” Gordon says. “I put together a presentation book showing illustrations of what it would look like. When I showed it to the mayor, he liked it but told me the bridge was owned by the county. 
Getting everyone’s approval was the best way to go forward. I presented to many committees such as tourism and the parks department so we could all get on the same page.”
“In the end, the plan went from basic to spectacular,” he adds. “An engineering firm was hired and two pergolas with vines, lighting, trees and huge flowerpots with irrigation were installed. The cost was split between the city and county. We raised around $160,000 through connections within the community. A lot of the donations came from the small businesses of Noblesville.”
After the hardscape of the design was finished in August of 2022, Peg Adams and her team of four volunteers have been responsible its continued beauty. Adams was involved in landscaping for 30 years and owned Hoosier Gardener before she sold it. The plantings on the bridge change with the seasons.
“I really enjoyed the colors last fall,” Adams says. “There was kale, cabbages and mums. One bed is in the center and there was a display of straw bales, pumpkins and pansies.”
Gordon hopes to establish a small endowment for the upkeep of the Bridge of Flowers. Plans are being made for a fundraiser to be held in September. Those involved hope the project can continue to team up with initiatives such as Noblesville Main Street, Inc.
“The intent was to beautify downtown Noblesville,” Gordon says. “It’s a place for engagement or wedding photos. People can sit, rest and look over the river. It’s the most unique bridge in all the Midwest.”
