BY KAREN BOSSICK
Look for Hootie next time you visit Colorado Gulch Preserve.
The Wood River Land Trust cut the ribbon this weekend on artwork that includes a metal owl nicknamed Hootie sitting on a fence overlooking the new pedestrian bridge in the preserve.
The bridge itself features metal leaf and vine artwork resembling that found on the Bow Bridge at the Draper Wood River Preserve a mile to the north.
The pedestrian bridge was made possible by a $22,565 grant from the Wood River Women’s Foundation, which helped remake 150 acres in the Colorado Gulch area west of Hailey into an extension of the popular Draper Preserve. The bridge crosses an irrigation canal that dissects the popular preserve.
Leslie Howa, who championed the unique Bow Bridge, designed the artwork, which was made possible by an anonymous donation. And Kim and Eric Nielsen of K&M Construction fabricated and installed it.
“The whole ideas was that we wanted to create something that was indigenous to the area and that would enhance the bridge and connect its design with the Bow Bridge,” said Howa. “It’s a visual reminder to appreciate and protect what we have because, once we lose places like this, they are gone forever.”