Talleyrand Park Suspension Bridge

Talleyrand Park started in 1964 as a collaboration between the Bellefonte Borough Council and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The site of the park was once a commercial area, by the 1960’s, the buildings were all abandoned and in a state of disrepair. The buildings were demolished in 1971, allowing for grass and trees to be planted. However, the project was nearly abandoned in 1974 due to funding issues. Fortunately, a volunteer group was able to raise money to maintain the park. Plans for the park layout, gazebo, pergola, and promenade were approved the following year.

The Talleyrand Park Suspension Bridge was built in 1985 to connect the sections along High Street and Water Street.

In May of 2024, Bellefonte Borough released a Request for Quotations to renovate the bridge. The current design is inaccessible to disabled residents, due to the steps on either end of the bridge. In addition, the bridge has a wooden deck, which can get slippery and become unsafe. In addition, the current deck has warped, split and uneven boards, which can become trip hazards creating a further barrier for disabled residents. The project proposes to remove both sets of steps and replace them with ADA ramps. In addition, the wood decking will be removed and replaced with anti-skid AmeriBoard type material. The project will likely also include rehabilitation to the superstructure and substructure.

Talleyrand Park (and therefore the bridge) was named in honor of the French diplomat, Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand, who named the town Bellefonte. Upon visiting the spring, he supposedly remarked, “Quelle belle fontaine!” (What a beautiful fountain!).