Bridge Renamed For Denny Ashlock

As the ceremony unfolded in honor of Denny Ashlock, a few passersby ducked through the crowd.

It was a bit awkward, as they wheeled their bikes through and headed off down the Centennial Trail. But no one minded.

These were the bicyclists, the walkers, the everyday people finding beauty in the Spokane River of whom Ashlock dreamed as he pushed and prodded the community into creating the trail.

Ashlock died unexpectedly in January. He was 59.

Ashlock’s vision and persistence were called to mind by more than one speaker during Thursday’s ceremony. The event renamed the Plante’s Ferry Bridge in his honor.

In her comments, Phyllis Campbell recalled the daily 8:30 a.m. phone calls she became used to: “It was Denny asking, ‘Have you called Tom Foley’s office yet today, Phyllis?”’

“Denny left us way too soon,” said Joe Custer, pointing heavenward.

“He’s up there. He’s found a project that needs doing. He’s gathered a band of angels around him to help. And he’s driving St. Peter to distraction, asking him for resources to get the job done.”

The description was so right-on, many in the crowd laughed.

The ceremony at the side of the Spokane River became the eulogy that didn’t occur during Ashlock’s funeral last winter.

Ashlock was relentless in pursuing his projects, but shy of publicity for himself.

“When they called to ask me. … I said, ‘Go ahead. It will be nice for the grandchildren,”’ said Linda Ashlock, Denny’s widow.

About 70 people attended the ceremony, at the south end of what is now called the Denny Ashlock Bridge. One noted that the bridge sits 12.5 miles from Riverfront Park and 12.5 miles from the Idaho border.

The three Ashlock children, John, Alison and Jennifer, were there. So was Kierstan Ashlock Natarajan, almost 2 months old and the first Ashlock grandchild.

Little Kierstan, squinting in the sun, got his first look at the plaque mounted on an imposing boulder.

The inscription reads: “This bridge is dedicated to the memory of Dennis L. Ashlock (1938-1998) whose vision and fortitude resulted in the construction of the Centennial Trail.”