Rainbow Bridge Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

After months of planning, construction and community support, the Alliance for the Arts and Southwest Florida resident Gabrielle Bolen invite the community to celebrate the grand opening of the Rainbow Bridge Pet Memorial on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 10:30 a.m. at the Alliance for the Arts, 10091 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. The dedication will take place during the Alliance’s Morning Market and Family Fun Day, a free community event featuring an artesian market and family-friendly activities throughout the campus. The grand opening ceremony is free and open to the public, and community members are invited to gather for the dedication of this new permanent space honoring beloved pets who have crossed the Rainbow Bridge. Inspired by the beloved Rainbow Bridge poem, the memorial offers a peaceful place for pet lovers to remember, reflect and celebrate the animals who have been part of their families. Visitors will be invited to leave collars in honor of pets they have lost, creating an evolving community memorial filled with stories of love and companionship. The Rainbow Bridge Pet Memorial was a passion project by Bolen, a lifelong dog lover who spent more than a year navigating planning, connecting and fundraising to bring the project to life. Following the groundbreaking ceremony in August, the vision became a reality through the generosity and hard work of local businesses, professionals and community members. “What started as a simple idea grew into something much larger than I ever imagined,” said Bolen. “This bridge truly was built by a community of people who understand how deeply our pets become part of our families. Seeing it completed is incredibly emotional, and I hope this space becomes a place where people can come to remember, to grieve, to celebrate and to feel connected to others who understand that kind of love.” The memorial is designed as a symbolic structure that visitors can walk around rather than across. Surrounded by landscaping and a peaceful seating area, the space is intended to provide a welcoming environment for reflection and remembrance. The grand opening will mark the beginning of the memorial’s next chapter as a permanent part of the Alliance campus. Community members are encouraged to bring a collar, or tag to honor a beloved pet. Tributes placed at the memorial will become part of a living testament to the special bonds between people and their animals. “I think this space will mean something different to everyone who visits,” Bolen said. “For some, it may be a place to remember a pet they’ve recently lost. For others, it may bring back memories of an animal who was part of their family many years ago. My hope is that children and adults alike can find comfort here and know that they aren’t alone in their grief. The love we have for our pets is real, and that love deserves a place to be remembered.” The project has been made possible through an extraordinary community effort, with local businesses and supporters contributing funding, construction, labor, materials, engineering, signage, landscaping and other services to help bring the memorial to life. Every donor, including businesses, service providers and individual contributors, will be recognized with a commemorative plaque near the memorial. Community partners contributing to the Rainbow Bridge Pet Memorial include Shoreline Lumber – Ron Paluck; The Structure Pros, Inc. – Ryan Kane; APEX Companies, LLC – Tyler Sharpe; Shoreline Property Company – Lacey Williams; Mike Stewart, P.E.; Driftwood Gardens; FASTSIGNS Naples; iBuild Design & Remodel; and TriCircle Landscape Supply. “The Rainbow Bridge Pet Memorial is creating a place where residents and visitors can experience the arts alongside nature as a source of healing, connection, and enjoyment right in the heart of Fort Myers.” said Neil Volz, executive director of the Alliance for the Arts. “The Alliance is honored to be the home of this special space.” The Rainbow Bridge Pet Memorial is part of the Alliance’s evolving ArtsPark initiative, an ongoing vision to create immersive arts, nature and community experiences throughout the Alliance’s 10-acre campus. The ArtsPark vision includes accessible walkways, permanent and rotating sculpture installations, a Plein Air Pavilion for outdoor artists, pollinator gardens, a Story Walk featuring local authors and illustrators, ambient sound installations showcasing local musicians, enhanced campus signage, virtual and docent-led walking tours, and the restoration and preservation of existing public artworks. The grand opening of the Rainbow Bridge Pet Memorial will take place as part of the Alliance Morning Market and Family Fun Day on Saturday, Sept. 19, providing families with an opportunity to experience the new memorial alongside a day of free arts and community activities at the Alliance. Community members interested in supporting ArtsPark and future campus improvements can make a donation at ArtInLee.org/donate. For more information about the Rainbow Bridge Pet Memorial groundbreaking ceremony, visit ArtInLee.org or RainbowBridgeSWFL on Instagram and Facebook.