Although perhaps not as well-known as some of the other public parks created around the same time, such as Central Park, Elm Park located in Worcester, Massachusetts, is considered to be one of the oldest parks in the United States. The park features walking paths, a playground and areas for picnicking. The park plays host to numerous events throughout the year including food truck festivals, is adorned annually with art in the park pieces and musical concert series.

Recently, the existing red bridge at Elm Park was in need of repairs and the city of Worcester recognized that if the bridge was to be replaced, they should address the need to provide access to the bridge to pedestrians of all abilities. Despite being inaccessible to many as a result of the extremely steep slopes on either side of the bridge structure, the picturesque setting was still considered to be a highly desired location for wedding photographs. The original bridge was constructed in 1877 to span the channel that connected the Elm Mere and South Mere, formerly known as the Oval Pool and Diamond Pool, respectively. The pools were used for various forms of recreation including, pond boat sailing in the summer and ice skating in the winter. The height of the bridge and clearance underneath the bridge structure was to accommodate ice skaters gliding beneath the bridge in the winter months. By 1881, the original cedar bridge was already in need of replacement and was subsequently replaced with a bridge constructed of "hard pine". The bridge was reconstructed several times over the years with the most recent bridge having been built in the 1980s, prior to the adoption of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Landscape architects from Beals and Thomas, Inc. of Southborough, Massachusetts, managed the site design and permitting for the reconstruction of the approximately 55' long red bridge. The process was a collaborative effort, involving the city of Worcester, professional design consultants, and vocational students in the Advanced Manufacturing, Carpentry, Painting and Design and Welding programs from Worcester Technical High School, and civil, environmental, and architectural engineering students from Worcester Polytechnic University.

 
The design of the bridge structure was prepared to mimic the historical structure that originally spanned the pools. The existing height of the bridge and clearance underneath was maintained in order to continue to allow ice skaters to glide underneath without striking the bridge structure. As a result, the approaches to the bridge on either side were elevated to include walkways with an approximately 4.5% slope leading to the bridge. The reconstructed bridge provides access to park visitors of all abilities to experience the views from the bridge, overlooking the ponds and to observe the activities within the historic park that includes elements designed by the Olmsted Brothers, the sons of Frederick Law Olmstead.

The project was made possible through a generous donation from the Kraft Family Foundation and was re-dedicated in December 2015 as the Myra Hiatt Kraft Memorial Footbridge, in honor of the well-known philanthropist and humanitarian, who was born in Worcester. The project was subsequently presented an Accessibility Award in the Public Architecture category from the Boston Society of Architects.

Team List
Owner/Client: City of Worcester
Department of Public Works and Parks:
Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Division
Site Designer/Landscape Architect:
Beals and Thomas, Inc.
Structural Engineer: Harvey and Tracy Associates, Inc.
Electrical Engineer: Power Engineers, LLC
General Contractor: Mass-West Construction, Inc.
Bridge Design: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering students
Bridge Construction: Worcester Technical High School
Advanced Manufacturing, Carpentry, Painting and Design and Welding students

As seen in LASN magazine, March 2020.