Rainbow Bridge Pet Memorial Grand Opening
Fort Myers, FL – The Alliance for the Arts, in collaboration with local resident Gabrielle Bolen, invites the community to the grand opening of the Rainbow Bridge Pet Memorial on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 10:30 a.m. The ceremony will be part of the Alliance’s Morning Market and Family Fun Day, a free event featuring an artisan market and family-friendly activities.
The Rainbow Bridge Pet Memorial honors pets who have crossed the Rainbow Bridge, providing a serene space for pet lovers to remember and celebrate their beloved animals. Inspired by the poignant poem “Rainbow Bridge,” the memorial invites visitors to leave collars in tribute to the pets they have lost, creating a living testament of shared love.
Gabrielle Bolen, a lifelong dog lover and the driving force behind the project, spent over a year planning and fundraising for its realization. “What started as a simple idea grew into something much larger than I ever imagined,” Bolen reflected. The project was brought to life through the dedication of local businesses, professionals, and community members.
The memorial features a symbolic structure designed for visitors to walk around, surrounded by landscaping and seating areas, encouraging reflection and remembrance. Community members are invited to bring collars or tags to honor their beloved pets during the grand opening.
Bolen hopes the space will offer comfort to all who visit, recognizing the deep bonds between pets and their families. “The love we have for our pets is real, and that love deserves a place to be remembered,” she stated.
The Rainbow Bridge Pet Memorial is part of the broader ArtsPark initiative at the Alliance, a vision to merge arts, nature, and community experiences on its 10-acre campus, which includes various installations and gardens.
For more information about the memorial or to support future developments at the Alliance, visit ArtInLee.org/donate or follow RainbowBridgeSWFL on social media.
Location: 10091 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers, FL
Contact: 239-939-2787
Website: www.ArtInLee.org
— Source: Alliance for the Arts
