A new pet memorial in Shay Park is bringing together public art and a place for residents to remember beloved pets.
The Rainbow Bridge Pet Memorial, created through a partnership among 11 community groups and local artists, serves as both a public art installation and a space for people grieving the loss of a pet.
Inspired by the “Rainbow Bridge” concept from a 1959 poem often linked to pet loss, the project began with Valerie Vizena, former chair of the arts committee of the Civic Woman’s Club of Picayune.
Vizena said one goal of the memorial was to create a space where people could process grief.
“One of the things we also wanted to emphasize was that grief is real,” Vizena said. “We wanted to encourage people who were going through grief to reach out if they needed extra help.”
Residents can clip a pet’s collar or keepsakes to the cable on the bridge for free. Memorial tags are also available through the Pearl River County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and are installed on the bridge monthly.
Vizena said the project also aimed to highlight local artists and bring more public art to the community.
“We recognize that we have a lot of talented artists in the community, and we really wanted to make more public art available,” Vizena said.
Statues, birdbaths, birdhouses and painted brick pavers surround the bridge. Vizena said local artists and community groups donated the items.
The Woman’s Club environment committee also planted two trees at the site — a magnolia and a camellia — on either side of the bridge.
Vizena said the Mayor’s Youth Council helped paint the bridge while the Woman’s Club organized much of the project.
“They wanted to paint the bridge, which was great because we’re older women,” Vizena said. “You get out there and paint, and we love it.”
Rebecca Dickerson of the Greater Picayune Area Chamber of Commerce said the memorial reflects the community’s spirit.
“The fact that we had so many different organizations come together — it’s a testament to the spirit of the community,” Dickerson said. “So even though it represents the pets, it also shows what our community can come together and do.”
Vizena said the community’s support made the project special.
“That’s what projects like this should be, right? If the community is behind it, then a lot of people want to participate,” Vizena said. “And we definitely had that happen.”
