Architect Ken Cowart led a group who, with the help of Hillsborough County's Board of County Commissioners, saved the Friendship Trail Bridge from destruction. Hoping to turn the bridge into a High Line-esque linear park, Cowart and Co. convinced citizens and commissioners to keep it alive with renderings of what a revamped bridge might look like. Next step: The county will issue a call for proposals for its redesign. kennethcowart.net.
Watch: Ken Cowart, winner of Best Design Intervention for his leadership in rescuing the Friendship Trail Bridge, and his wife Shay Cowart (a Best of the Bay winner herself in 2011), with their amazingly well-behaved daughter Vivian. CL's David Warner talked with them during the Best of the Bay awards reception Sept. 19 at Creative Loafing.
This article appears in Sep 20-26, 2012.