South Coast Plaza to unveil bridge

Jennifer Kho

COSTA MESA -- The long-anticipated and much-celebrated bridge

connecting two parts of South Coast Plaza will officially open Thursday.

The pedestrian bridge will connect the main part of the shopping

center with stores across Bear Street, including Crate & Barrel and

Macy’s Home store.

Aside from its practical function, landscape designer Kathryn

Gustafson has attempted to provide it with an aesthetic one.

With metal arms holding clusters of fast-growing bougainvillea plants,

The Bridge of Gardens -- a 600-foot open-air walkway -- is designed as a

work of art.

“It will be like taking a stroll through a garden instead of walking

over a parking lot,” said Paul Freeman, spokesman for Segerstrom & Sons,

which owns South Coast Plaza. “[The bridge] is another work of art in

this city of the arts. It’s just wonderful.”

The Garden Terrace, a Gustafson-designed garden, and Cafe Pascal, a

new restaurant, will also open Thursday at the base of the bridge.

The garden includes a series of pools, eucalyptus and jacaranda trees

and Mediterranean plants.

A dedication event for the bridge will begin at 11:30 a.m., followed

by A Taste of South Coast Plaza from noon to 2 p.m. and a Wolfgang Puck

cooking demonstration and cookbook signing at 1 and 5 p.m.

The grand opening will also include live salsa, world jazz, reggae and

classical music.

FYI

* WHAT: Grand opening of The Garden Terrace, a half-acre of

Mediterranean plants and trees, and The Bridge of Gardens, a 600-foot

walkway.

* WHERE: South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa

* WHEN: 11:30 a.m. Thursday

* INFORMATION: (800) 782-8888 or o7 https://www.southcoastplaza.comf7