For 10 years, residents of Persimmon Creek and Persimmon Ridge have wanted to join the sidewalks that bound their two Carroll Road neighborhoods. Dividing them was a creek and two sidewalks that stopped short of what was supposed to be a bridge.
“Residents had to go out into Carroll Road to cross the creek whenever they tried to walk on the sidewalk,” said Persimmon POA President Chris Lephart. “It was a death trap for runners and bikers.”
Last fall, board members called newly elected Lawrence City Councilman David Freeman and invited him to a meeting to ask for help.
“They asked me to sign a petition to have this bridge built,” Freeman said.
Weeks after the meeting, Freeman’s friend called him with some startling news that their family friend Holly Corey was fatally shot at the Geist BP Amoco gas station.
“After she was shot, I took this on as a personal mission and wanted to make sure this bridge got built.”
Freeman solicited help from the Persimmon POA residents, Schneider Engineering donated the blueprints, Poindexter Excavating brought in some excavating equipment, and local businesses led by Finance Center Federal Credit Union and Citizen Gas chipped in over $2,000 to see the project through. Even the City of Lawrence stepped up to help, waiving the permit fees for the bridge.
“Every council member donated money out of their own pockets. The entire project was privately funded down to the plaque on the handrail,” Freeman added.
With planning underway, Freeman attended a Persimmon POA board meeting in April and asked if the bridge could be named in honor of their late Crystal Pointe neighbor Holly Corey.
“Everybody was excited that we were going to have a bridge,” said Persimmon POA board member Scott Beard. “When David had the idea to name the bridge after Holly Corey, everyone was 100% behind it.”
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“People remembered what happened last year, and it touched them,” added Lephart.
Over 20 volunteers came out over Labor Day weekend to construct the bridge, including Holly’s husband Jeff Corey and son, Jeffrey.
“It was neat to see the volunteer effort; there was a great spirit of cooperation and bonding,” Jeff Corey said.
Another Persimmon POA board member, Mel Sprouse, worked through the weekend as well. He was impressed with the camaraderie of the volunteers.
“We had people coming by giving us ice water, fixing us lunch and just thanking us for making this project complete.”
“I think the bridge is connecting the community,” said Sharon Swanson, a Persimmon POA board member and volunteer. “It brought some people out of the house.”
On September 11th, Lawrence Mayor Paul Ricketts and about 50 residents and volunteers gathered around the bridge to proclaim it the “Holly Rose Corey Bridge.”
Jeff Corey, with his arm around 13-year-old Jeffrey, was “truly humbled” by the outpouring of support and love. He called out his good friend David Freeman for seeing this project through.
“I can’t thank you enough, Dave.”
Jeff admits the last 10 months have been difficult. Both he and Jeffrey still have their days, some better than others.
“Jeffrey is my hero,” the proud dad says with a smile. “He’s had two of the best report cards he’s ever had, and he was even the ‘student of the month’ last spring.”
Jeff always sees the glass as three-quarters full. He looked at the bridge as the crowd was dispersing and said, “It’s good to know that something so tragic brought a community together.”
Thanks to Sharon Swanson and David Freeman for providing many of these photographs.