Letters: Readers Respond to the Geneva Mill Creek Bridge Vote

Following the Geneva City Council's approval of $4.2 million for a new pedestrian bridge connecting Mill Creek to downtown, the Tribune received more than 60 letters and emails from readers. A selection is printed below, edited for length and clarity.

"I have lived in Mill Creek for 11 years. Every day I watch my kids get in the car to go downtown because walking or biking there safely is not practical. This bridge changes that. The 7-2 vote was the right decision and I am grateful to the aldermen who had the courage to take it." — Karen Szymanski, Geneva

"The people opposing this bridge do not live in Mill Creek. They live on Third Street and don't want the foot traffic. I understand that concern, but it should not override the needs of 3,800 households. Property values near pedestrian infrastructure consistently rise. The opponents are arguing against their own financial interest." — Tom Helgeson, Geneva

"$4.2 million is real money, and I would feel better if we had gone through a second competitive bid before committing. That said, I trust the engineering team's numbers and I hope the community design meetings this summer produce something the whole city can be proud of." — Maureen Faherty, Geneva