Falls Edge Glass Walkway

The Falls Edge Glass Walkway at Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park in Portage County, Ohio, represents an example of innovative engineering and environmental stewardship, transforming a rugged natural landscape into an accessible, immersive experience for visitors. Opened in May 2025 by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), this 137-foot elevated pedestrian bridge gracefully spans Sylvan Creek Gorge, offering breathtaking views of sandstone formations, deep crevasses, and the cascading Minnehaha Falls - all while safeguarding the park's fragile ecosystems from overuse. At the heart of this structure's enduring design are the hot-dip galvanized (HDG) steel supports, coated for superior protection against the harsh outdoor elements prevalent in northeastern Ohio's variable climate. This project exemplifies how HDG enables visionary infrastructure to harmonize with nature, providing a model for future public works that prioritize longevity, safety, and ecological preservation.

Spanning 167 acres of dramatic geological wonders, Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park has long captivated adventurers with its sculpted sandstone ledges, scenic gorges, and waterfalls shaped by centuries of erosion. However, surging visitor numbers posed challenges, including off-trail erosion and safety risks in this delicate terrain. In response, ODNR commissioned the Falls Edge Glass Walkway—a curving, S-shaped elevated bridge suspended 50 feet above the gorge floor, constructed over two years and a total investment of $1.68 million. The structure features transparent structural-grade glass decking for an exhilarating "walk on air" sensation, cable railings for unobstructed views, and a cantilevered overlook poised just before Minnehaha Falls.

The galvanized and painted steel supports form the backbone of this engineering marvel, leveraging HDG's robust coating to deliver unparalleled resistance to corrosion in the park's humid, forested microclimate. This enhanced protection, known as a duplex coating system, combines hot-dip galvanizing with a high-performance paint finish, providing both sacrificial corrosion protection from the zinc layer and an additional barrier against moisture, UV exposure, and mechanical wear, while also offering precise color control to complement the surrounding natural landscape. Together, the duplex system significantly extends service life while preserving the structure’s appearance in its highly visible natural setting.

Construction on the Falls Edge Glass Walkway commenced in December 2022, employing aerial-access methods to minimize disruption to the surrounding rock formations and vegetation, a testament to the project's environmental sensitivity. The steel supports, critical for bearing the bridge's dynamic loads while curving elegantly through the S-path, underwent hot-dip galvanizing to achieve a uniform, metallurgically bonded zinc coating that provides sacrificial protection against rust and atmospheric degradation. Corrosion protection was paramount given the gorge's moisture-laden air and proximity to flowing Sylvan Creek; the zinc layer's self-healing properties at exposed edges and welds prevent rust, safeguarding the supports against the freeze-thaw cycles and seasonal downpours common to Ohio's winters and springs. 

From a life-cycle cost perspective, HDG delivers significant savings by obviating costly downtime for maintenance and extending service intervals, allowing ODNR to allocate funds more effectively toward trail enhancements and habitat restoration. Today, the walkway draws thousands of visitors annually, from families to photographers, who traverse its glass panels to gaze 50 feet down at the creek's rush, all supported by HDG's reliable, low-impact performance that promises to preserve this natural treasure for generations.