Bethany Curve Bridge

Community Arts and Empowerment was selected to create community-generated mosaics for the Bethany Curve Bridge.

Venecia Prudencio was selected as our design artist and we have begun fabricating mosaics at a satellite studio in the Tannery arts Center located at 1070 River St. Santa Cruz CA.

Background Information:

The Bethany Curve Park bridge on West Cliff Drive was damaged significantly during the 2023 atmospheric river storms. The new replacement bridge has been completed, and the road work repair section of West Cliff reopened to pedestrian and bike traffic in March 2025.

Bethany Curve Park is a City neighborhood park, maintained by Parks and Recreation, and runs as a narrow 2.6-acre greenbelt park down from Delaware Street until it meets West Cliff Drive and Woodrow. At the mouth of the ocean end, there are memorial benches and the “Astronomy & Tides” sculpture offering a respite to sit and reflect while looking out on the Pacific Ocean. Running through the long-shaped riparian park is a stream that serves as a pillar of the ecosystem for the flora and fauna. The Bethany Curve Bridge culvert allows water to run under the Bethany Curve Bridge and into the ocean via a cross drain. With West Cliff Drive being a precious and iconic landmark for Santa Cruz, both locals and visitors alike travel this 2.5 mile stretch of coastline every year. Many may not initially notice the waterbed located at the park site and walk across the bridge without noticing the water.

The Bethany Curve Bridge Community Mosaic will align with three water themes.  

‘Water is essential to life’  

‘Public behavior changes to improve the water quality of our source waters’ 

‘Promote public education and awareness about the City’s water resources and the importance of water conservation’

Here are pictures of our volunteers and current progress on the mosaics!