Horseshoe Bay pet memorial bridge nearing completion
Berkeley’s Bridge at the new City Center will honor pets, allowing owners to hang their collars and tags. Courtesy photo by Cindee Sharp.
Berkeley’s Bridge, a memorial pedestrian bridge meant to honor the pets of Horseshoe Bay residents, should be finished the week of Monday, March 9.
The new monument will be along the Elsie Thurman Nature Walking Trail at the Horseshoe Bay City Center at 9101 W. FM 2147.
Residents have the city’s blessing to adorn the structure with the collars and tags of their pets along its railings. The bridge also marks the start of the city’s growing municipal trail system.
Construction crews are finishing final work, with completion expected this week, weather permitting.
The idea dates back to October 2022, when then-Mayor Pro Tem Elsie Thurman was approached by resident Gail Matthews with a concept for a place where the community could peacefully remember their animals.
“At the time, the idea was perfect, but the location wasn’t. We simply didn’t have the right spot to do the concept justice. However, as plans for our new City Center and the connected walking trail began to take shape, I realized we had finally found a home for Gail’s vision,” Thurman told DailyTrib.
The Matthews, who donated the bridge, drew inspiration from a trip to Vermont where they saw a similar project. Horseshoe Bay’s memorial is named after the Matthews’ 13-year-old comfort retriever, Berkeley.
“We saw a bridge similar to Berkeley’s Bridge in Vermont which was laden with collars and tags in memory of pets who had died,” Gail Matthews told DailyTrib. “Whenever we see those collars, it brings back such fond memories. We believed so many of us in Horseshoe Bay have had loving pets and would treasure a place for them to be remembered.”
A plaque will invite visitors to hang collars and tags. Fundraising continues for Phase 2 to extend the trail around City Center into a longer loop.
“My hope is that we will soon gather to bless the structure and begin the tradition of adorning its rails with the collars and tags of our loyal companions,” Thurman said. “It will be a living tribute to the pets who have graced our lives.”