The Courier-Journal (Louisville)

Custom lighting available for The Big Four Pedestrian Bridge

- Kirby Adams

Louisville’s night sky is more brilliant since the installati­on of 1,472 LED lights in 2015 on The Big Four Bridge. An iconic landmark for the city, over a million visitors per year enjoy the bridge for exercise, a stroll, or a picture-perfect view of the beautiful downtown skyline.

After the sun sets, the former railroad bridge which connects pedestrian­s from Kentucky to Indiana, lights up the night along the Ohio River with decorative lighting in a rainbow of colors. And did you know, those colors aren’t always random?

The LED lights on The Big Four Bridge can be programmed to display specific colors when requested by an individual or organizati­on for a certain celebratio­n, memorial, or cause.

For example, a local couple excepting a baby programmed the lights for a gender reveal. The bridge was lit in blue and pink which alternated until the entire bridge was aglow in pink, announcing the couple would soon welcome a baby girl.

The bridge regularly lights the night sky above the Ohio River to celebrate various holidays. You may have noticed shades of red and pink for Valentine’s Day, green for St. Patrick’s Day, and red, white, and blue for the Fourth of July. It has also been programmed to honor Coach Denny Crum, Kentuckian­a Heart Associatio­n Wear Red Day, National Down Syndrome Day, and The Pete Foundation for Mental Health. It was also green for a significan­t time during COVID.

The program gained traction in 2020 during the pandemic when people could not gather in person, so many used the Big Four Bridge to celebrate or bring awareness to a cause without physically gathering.

According to Catie Nelson, director of events at Waterfront Park, nonprofit organizati­ons and individual­s can apply online to customize the lighting on the Big Four Bridge. Waterfront Park is a donor-supported public park that manages the Big Four Bridge and lighting requests have become a successful fundraiser to support the park and maintenanc­e of the bridge.

Rates for lighting the bridge are $1,000 per day or $250 per day for nonprofit organizati­ons. Lights operate daily from twilight until 1 a.m. and can be reserved for an evening, weekend, or week at ourwaterfr­ont.org.

Pig Beach BBQ, 1201 River Road, also hosts “Supporter Nights” during special bridge lighting. The space has a view of the Ohio River and the pedestrian bridge, perfect for celebratin­g your organizati­on and the bridge being lit in your honor. Email Pig Beach BBQ General Manager Kristen Voelkel at kristen@pigbeachny­c.com for more details.

Reach features reporter Kirby Adams at kadams@courier-journal.com.

 ?? MICHAEL CLEVENGER/COURIER JOURNAL ?? The Big Four pedestrian bridge is lighted in blue and yellow, the colors of Ukraine on Feb. 26, 2022.
MICHAEL CLEVENGER/COURIER JOURNAL The Big Four pedestrian bridge is lighted in blue and yellow, the colors of Ukraine on Feb. 26, 2022.

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