Thanks to the dedicated efforts of a host of volunteers the Alumni Bridge now proudly spans the northern end of Batts Pond in the Lillian Anderson Arboretum. The bridge was conceived by Paul Sotherland shortly after the eastern 30 acres of the Arboretum were acquired from Western Michigan University. The pond is named after Dr. and Mrs. H. Lewis Batts, whose generous donation made the acquisition of the property possible.

In the Fall of 2003, Dr. Sotherland shared his vision for the bridge with a number of alumni on an Arboretum tour. They responded quickly and generously and financial requirements for the structure were soon met. Weather prevented construction in 2004 but this summer all the pieces were in place. The original bridge design was sketched out with the help of Mike Glista, '06. In June, Paul Sotherland, along with new Arboretum director John Fraser and one-off construction specialist Ralph Babcock (father of Rachel Babcock '91) brainstormed the final design.

On Saturday, July 16th, the Sotherland, Fraser and Babcock team assembled the bridge framework on the cement pad just behind the Arboretum parking lot. This clever move permitted the use of a generator for power tools and provided the level surface so useful for eye-ball engineering. Margaret and Shoji Masuzawa provided refreshments and moral support. During the course of the next week the parts were disassembled and carried in to the Batts Pond site. Peter Sotherland, James Mickley '08 and Ben Connor Barrie '06 did most of the heavy lifting. On the 23rd the framework was reassembled in place. Underwater post hole digging was facilitated by the use of a tall, white, bottomless-bucket coffer dam (patent applied for). Mud was churned up, mosquitoes cursed, fasteners dropped in the water and all went more or less according to plan. By the end of the day the project was ready for the final push, which was provided the next weekend by the enthusiastic and skillful volunteers of Camp K.

Camp K is Kalamazoo College's summer fun weekend for alumni and their children. One of this year's activities was an afternoon at the Arboretum with bridge construction as the featured event. Campers not only carried bridge decking in from the parking lot to the pond but spent several hours installing it as well. John Kline '86 and son Caleb, Greg Prost '88 and Craig Hendrix (Dana Hendrix '80) were the featured carpenters while Holly Witchey '83, Alison Frye '94, Amy Courter '83 and Lisa Presley led the transport division (and provided the marching songs).

The name "Alumni Bridge" has been chosen for the new structure to honor the individuals who provided the initial encouragement and financing. The Arboretum Director and Advisory Committee would particularly like to thank Susan Cooper '64, Karen DeVos '59, Alison Frye '94, Bill Garrow '68, Hans Morefield '92 and all the other alumni, family and friends of the Arboretum whose generosity and hard work made the bridge possible.

The new bridge is approximately 30 feet long and is constructed of untreated cedar with wood composite decking. Batts Pond is in the southeast corner of the Arboretum and can be accessed either from the Batts Pond Trail (turn left just after the Magnificent Pines) or from the Wood Frog Trail. New trail maps will be installed in the Arboretum sometime this winter. In the meantime, updated maps are available for download at the website (click on 'Visit'). Hopefully there will be an official opening sometime in the fall but visitors are invited to try out the new bridge at any time.