![\"A](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-134365530,imgsize-175177,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/bolen-a-lifelong-dog-lover-had-been-working-on-the-project-for-more-than-a-year-before-it-became-a-reality-photo-wgcu-news.jpg\" "\\"Bolen,")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFlorida resident Gabrielle Bolen has opened a permanent Rainbow Bridge Pet Memorial at the Alliance for the Arts in Fort Myers, giving families a place to remember pets they have lost, Cape Coral Breeze reported.The memorial opened on Saturday after Bolen spent about 18 months planning, fundraising and working with local businesses and community members to turn her idea into a physical space where visitors can leave collars and tags in honour of their pets.Bolen, a lifelong dog lover, had been working on the project for more than a year before it became a reality. The memorial was created as a place for people to grieve, remember and celebrate pets that were part of their families. The memorial is inspired by the well-known Rainbow Bridge poem.<\/p>\n The Rainbow Bridge Pet Memorial is designed as a symbolic bridge that visitors can walk around rather than across. The structure is surrounded by landscaping and a seating area, creating a space where people can spend time remembering their pets.Visitors are invited to bring a collar or tag belonging to a pet they have lost. These tributes will become part of the memorial and create an evolving display of the bonds between people and their animals.\u201cWhat started as a simple idea grew into something much larger than I ever imagined,\u201d Bolen said in a prepared statement. \u201cThis bridge truly was built by a community of people who understand how deeply our pets become part of our families.\u201dBolen said the completed memorial was emotional for her after the long process of bringing the project together.\u201cSeeing 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,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n The Rainbow Bridge Pet Memorial is now a permanent part of the Alliance for the Arts campus<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n Bolen spent more than a year working on planning, making connections and fundraising for the project. After the groundbreaking ceremony in August, local businesses and community members helped turn the plan into a completed memorial.Support for the project included funding, construction, labour, materials, engineering, signage, landscaping and other services.Every donor, including businesses, service providers and individual contributors, will be recognised with a commemorative plaque near the memorial.Bolen said the community support helped make the memorial something larger than the original idea. \u201cThis bridge truly was built by a community of people who understand how deeply our pets become part of our families,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n The Rainbow Bridge Pet Memorial is now a permanent part of the Alliance for the Arts campus. The Alliance sees the project as part of its wider ArtsPark initiative, which aims to create arts, nature and community experiences across its 10-acre campus.Neil Volz, executive director of the Alliance for the Arts, said the memorial would add another space where people can connect with art and nature.\u201cThe 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,\u201d Volz said. \u201cThe Alliance is honoured to be the home of this special space.\u201dThe Alliance for the Arts is located at 10091 McGregor Blvd. in Fort Myers. The nonprofit visual and performing arts centre has been working in the community since 1975.\u201cI think this space will mean something different to everyone who visits,\u201d Bolen said. \u201cFor some, it may be a place to remember a pet they\u2019ve recently lost. For others, it may bring back memories of an animal who was part of their family many years ago.\u201d\u201cMy hope is that children and adults alike can find comfort here and know that they aren\u2019t alone in their grief. The love we have for our pets is real, and that love deserves a place to be remembered,\u201d she said.<\/div>\n Bolen, a lifelong dog lover, had been working on the project for more than a year before it became a reality (Photo: Wgcu news) Florida resident Gabrielle Bolen has opened a permanent Rainbow Bridge Pet Memorial at the Alliance for the Arts in Fort Myers, giving families a place to remember pets they have lost, 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a lifelong dog lover, had been working on the project for more than a year before it became a reality (Photo: Wgcu news) Florida resident Gabrielle Bolen has opened a permanent Rainbow Bridge Pet Memorial at the Alliance for the Arts in Fort Myers, giving families a place to remember pets they have lost, […]","magazineBlocksPostCategories":["\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36 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place to remember lost pets<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/imgsize-212940,msid-134365545\/the-rainbow-bridge-pet-memorial-is-now-a-permanent-part-of-the-alliance-for-the-arts-campus.jpg\" "\\"The")
<\/p>\nLocal community helped build the memorial<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
Memorial becomes permanent part of ArtsPark<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"