Clinton Presidential Park Bridge History

Clinton Presidential Park Bridge History. . , 1898-Choctaw, Oklahoma and Gulf Railrod (CO&G) entered the Little Rock market by leasing (and later buying) the Little Rock and Memphis Railroad., 1899-CO&G built the Choctaw Station and the railroad bridge over the Arkansas River at Little Rock., 1902-04-In a hostile takeover, the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Company acquired the Choctaw, Oklahoma and Gulf Railroad Company, and the bridge was renamed the Rock Island Bridge., 1940-The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad (CRI&P) unveiled the first diesel-powered streamlined train, which was called the Choctaw Rocket. The Choctaw Rocket Pullford-Standard was the first streamliner to operate out of Memphis and the first to operate in Arkansas., 1967-Passenger service ended and the Choctaw Station and surrounding land was bought by the Arkansas Gazette newspaper., 1970-Five of the six bridges in Little Rock were slated for improvement due to the implementation of the Mcclellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation system, which created a safe and reliable navigation channel for barge traffic. The Rock Island Railroad Bridge was retrofitted with a lift span that could be raised to allow for barge traffic along the river or lowered for trains. Since 1980, the lift spans been permanently raised., 1975-The Rock Island Line declared bankruptcy., 1980-The Rock Island Bridge ceased operation and was acquired by the Missouri Pacific Railroad., 1990-The Choctaw Station was acquired by the Spaghetti Warehouse restaurant chain, remodeled, and used as a restaurant. 1995-The Union Pacific Railroad prepared plans to tear down the bridge due to the liability it represented., 2001-The City of Little Rock assumed ownership of the bridge and retains ownership today., 2002-The William L. Clinton Foundation leased the Choctaw Station from the City of Little Rock, and with a gift from the Roy and Christine Sturgis Charitable Trust, the station was renovated to serve as the home of the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service and the Clinton Foundation., 2010-The City of Little Rock officially changed the name of the bridge to the Clinton Presidential Park Bridge as a tribute to the Clinton Foundation's efforts to renovate it into the eastern link to the Arkansas River Trail System., 2011-The renovated pedestrian bridge was dedicated by President Bill Clinton, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and their daughter, Chelsea Clinton, and officially opened to the public.