Arts & Entertainment Community Government
City may bring back love locks, but in a safer place
The beloved love locks no longer grace the bridge over Donkey Creek for safety reasons. But they may not be gone for good.
The city of Gig Harbor plans to put a special love locks installation in Donkey Creek Park.
The city removed the locks on the bridge this year, citing safety concerns over the span’s ability to hold the weight of the ever-proliferating symbols of affection.
Two city advisory boards — the Arts Commission and the Parks Commission — discussed the project recently. Parks commissioners noted at their Nov. 4 meeting that the late Arts Commissioners Stephanie Killilea and Joanne Kathleen Brandani were proponents of a love locks installation.
The city plans to solicit an artist to create the installation.
The city of Gig Harbor removed “love locks” from the bridge over Donkey Creek in the spring, but a new art installation may offer an alternative. Photo by Vince Dice
Look and location
The new installation would safely hold the weight of many love locks and include a receptacle where people can drop their keys instead of throwing them into the creek.
Documents from a Parks Commission meeting state that the installation should be made of sturdy, non-pliable metal. It should be tall enough to hold a number of locks, but not tall enough for kids to climb. The base will also be ADA-accessible.
Instead of cutting off the locks for periodic cleaning, the city prefers a design that uses poles, rods or cables to allow the entire batch of locks to slide off.
Commissioners discussed where the installation would best fit in the park. They said that it should be visible, but noted that a final decision must wait until utilities staff makes sure any digging wouldn’t damage buried infrastructure.
Commissioners decided to recommend the city allows the artist it chooses to pick the site. Staff will vet each of the site options.
Parks Manager Jennifer Haro said that she will need to talk with the Arts Commission liaison about the installation and that a Parks Commissioner may sit on the review committee.