The Lawrence Avenue Bridge is located on Lawrence Avenue East, in between Scarborough Golf Club Road and Morningside Avenue. Spanning over 260 metres, the bridge crosses over the Highland Creek and features a six-lane roadway on top. Due to the size of this bridge, it has been criticized as a community barrier, dividing the neighbourhoods of Kingston-Galloway and Orton Park.
In 2010, a group of collaborators planned a series of art interventions on and under the bridge. One of these initiatives included a 260 metre mural on the north side of the bridge. Supervised by local artist Rob Matejka of Mural Routes, 40 youth from the community dotted the bridge with turquoise images of people, wildlife, and the natural surrounding environment. In 2011, Mural Routes worked with another team of young people to create a mural on the the north side of the bridge, featuring themes inspired by consultation with community members.
Presently, Scarborough Arts continues to plan an annual festival underneath the bridge. They work closely with community members, organizations, and artists to plan the event. The Bridging Festival features free family friendly activities, entertainment (including dance, music, and poetry), and more. The festival celebrates and promotes arts and culture within the community.
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Photo: Hyesoo Kim