Yazoo River Trail Bridge & Boardwalk

The Yazoo River Trail Bridge and Boardwalk provide pedestrian access to a series of trails that skirt the Yazoo River near downtown Greenwood, Mississippi. Both structures significantly extend the period each year during which residents of all ages can walk, run and bike in this natural setting.

Designed to blend into the verdant surroundings, leaves from the site were used to color match the wood stain and the composite decking. The cultural context is also integrated into the design. Inspired by the rhythm of blue riffs, the dense handrail system is reminiscent of musical notes along a staff.

Throughout the bridge and boardwalk, the repetitive framing inherent in the structure, decking and handrails provided numerous opportunities for a construction team made up largely of nascent carpenters to develop skills under the leadership of two lead builders. One crew member became so adept at complex cuts with the miter saw that he provided most of the compound angle cuts required for the bench seats.

With an eye to sustainability, shavings from the deck boards were captured at the cut station, preventing them from entering waterways. Care was also taken to extend the life cycle of the materials and the trails. The wide base benches were designed to reduce the walk path to prevent access by the narrowest standard ATV. Finally, the foundation and other structural elements were oversized to allow them to weather increasingly frequent and extended flooding events. In the first year since the bridge and boardwalk were built, they were submerged by flood waters for weeks at a time and required no repair or maintenance beyond cleaning.