S.M.A.R.T. and Palm Coast Dedicate Rainbow Bridge Memorial at Holland Park

Palm Coast residents gathered on January 17 to celebrate the dedication of the Rainbow Bridge at Holland Park, a new memorial honoring cherished family pets who have passed away.

The initiative, spearheaded by the animal rescue nonprofit S.M.A.R.T. (Saving Missing Animals Response Team) of Flagler County, was realized through a collaborative effort with the City of Palm Coast and East Coast Animal Hospital.

Located at the rear of Holland Park, adjacent to the softball fields and tennis courts, the bridge serves as a permanent tribute to the enduring bond between pets and their families.

During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, S.M.A.R.T. founder Caroline Johnson expressed her gratitude, noting the two-year journey to bring the project to fruition.

She emphasized the collective effort involved, stating, "It was a great effort between so many people. S.M.A.R.T., the city, and East Coast really worked hard together to get this thing off the ground and find a good location for it and just bring it to life."

The bridge offers more than a symbolic remembrance; community members can purchase custom-engraved memorial pet tags through S.M.A.R.T.'s website.

These tags, which cost $30, can include the pet's name and the year they "crossed the rainbow bridge," and will be installed on the bridge as lasting tributes.

Proceeds beyond the cost of the tags and maintenance will support S.M.A.R.T.'s mission, including veterinary care for rescue dogs.

The construction was undertaken by local company PWC Builds, which designed a gravel "river" beneath the bridge and completed the surrounding landscaping.

City officials, including Mayor Mike Norris, Vice Mayor Theresa Pontieri, and Council Member Ty Miller, attended the ceremony.

Vice Mayor Pontieri read a city proclamation dedicating January 17 as "Rainbow Bridge Day" in Palm Coast, highlighting the bridge as "a new space for remembrance, reflection, and healing for those honoring beloved pets who have crossed the Rainbow Bridge."

For more information or to order a memorial tag, visit S.M.A.R.T.'s website.