State, federal and local dignitaries and other supporters of the proposed Cedar River Waterway & Park project are expected to attend the rededication ceremony of Cedar’s refurbished and repainted red pedestrian/snowmobile bridge, held at noon, Saturday, Septembber 19. 

The iconic bridge’s refurbishing is one of the first improvements at the Cedar Community Park in 37 years. State Representative Jack O’Malley and State Senator Curt VanderWall, who supported supplemental funding this spring that included $950,000 for major park upgrades but was never signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will be among Saturday’s speakers. U.S. Representative Jack Bergman’s aide will also be speaking.

The Rev. Kenneth Stachnik will bless the bridge and park. Dr. Ramona Pleva will sing the national anthem. Ray Pleva, chairman of the Cedar River Waterway & Park project, says a mini-Polka music concert on the adjoining softball field will also be a part of the two-hour ceremony.

“This is the first of the many planned improvements,” said Pleva, who started working on plans for park renovations three years ago. “The bridge looks just like it was 37 years ago.”

Pleva has been spearheading a grassroots effort to get donations for matching funds while the project's committee explores other state grant opportunities to make the park more universally accessible. A public informational meeting was held last month on upgrading river embankment walls, decking and boat launch facilities.

Two Cedar area polka bands, featuring members of the Ray and Julie Watkowski family and Larry Fleis and The Larks, will also be joined by Bobby Atkinson on stage. The Watkowskis donated and delivered the red bridge 37 years ago.

Concertgoers are encouraged to bring a chair and a mask and keep a social distance of six feet.