UTA COOPER STREET BRIDGES TO GET MAKEOVER DESIGNED BY STUDENTS

3 Scoops

1. The city of Arlington is seeking resident input on Meadowbrook Park improvements ahead of its 100 year anniversary. Public meetings will be held from 6 to 7:30 March 8 and April 4 at the Levitt Center at Levitt Pavilion Arlington, 100 W. Abram St. in downtown.

2. Registration is open for the Arlington Museum of Art Summer Art Camp. The half-day camps are tailored for children ages 6-12 and are held weekly between June 12 through July 21, 2023.

Two of the three Cooper Street bridges that connect the halves of The University of Texas at Arlington's campus are set to receive a makeover courtesy of winning designs submitted by students.

The bridges, which opened in 1990, for many motorists, because many of the campus' noticeable buildings and greenery are hidden behind hills and slopes.

According to Austin Allen, CAPPA interim associate dean and associate professor of practice in architecture, the Bridging the Gap: The North Bridge, South Bridge Competition's broader aim was to use the redesign to bridge the gap between UTA's east and west, otherwise known as the "UTA Connecting Corridor."

“This is a wonderful opportunity for students and faculty to not only contribute to the University, but also to become part of UTA’s history,” Allen said in a statement.

Forty groups of students competed in the design event, and the top three teams won prizes of $1,250, $1,000 and $750. Prize funding comes from CAPPA and University administration.

In an interview with The Shorthorn, UTA's student newspaper, a member of the winning team said the main focus of their ideas for the bridge was to implement an open space and a sense of community.

“We wanted to create a bridge with lots of greenery, open space and a place for the community to interact and gather without the bridge being too enclosed,” architecture junior Michelle Marquez said.

UTA President Jennifer Cowley and a panel of industry professionals served as judges for the contest, and residents of City of Arlington as well as students, faculty, and staff of UTA were welcomed to weigh in on the entries. They considered factors such as connectivity, sustainability, long-term impact, and short-term impact.

Over the course of the next several months, the top teams will now work bring their visions to life with a $2.5 million budget supplied by the UT System Library, Equipment, Repair and Rehabilitation fund.

3. Eight Arlington parks are slated to receive new playground structures this year. The project includes playground equipment at the following parks: Don Misenhimer, Clarence Thompson, College Hills, Bowman Springs, Gene Schrickel Jr., Howard Moore, Dixon W. Holman and Mary and Jimmie Hooper.

#atpetofthemonth

by Jason Boyd – Sara Pintilie

Meet TATL! Tatl is a feisty 10-year-old Khao Manee. She's a hometown girl, rescued from the Arlington Animal Services, and rules the household with her antics. She might be mostly blind but she still bosses around everyone she meets. This special needs kitty requires a bath or two from her human, but she forgives the audacity with the help of a few chicken treats. Though she might not look like it, Tatl is honored to be Arlington Today Magazine's Pet of the Month.