When the celebration for the new South Park Bridge takes place on May 5 (Cinco de Mayo) people attending are in for a king sized treat in the form of a 26 foot multi-stage pinata, built to resemble the bridge. Designed and built by Alex Lopez the pinata has multiple chambers and will carry hundreds of pounds of candy and much, much more.

Lopez does taxes for H & R Block, in fact he's an area manager with offices on Delridge Way and in White Center. But his other passion is crafts. "I've done it since I was a little child," Lopez said. The idea for it came from Kathi George of Noise Without Sound design. She and Lopez know each other from volunteer work they both do and, "she's seen me make and donate pinatas," Lopez said, " I do Orcas and Blue Whales and different kinds of modern pinatas that are more aimed at adults and any time there's a non-profit in South Park that needs one I'll just donate one." When George asked Lopez to make it he agreed instantly but then she explained it had to be very large and she needed it in six weeks. "I told her I could only go ahead if she gave me permission to start that night," he said.

Lopez builds a lot of home-made remote controlled airplanes so he's used to intricate construction. Unlike his airplanes however his bridge pinata will all be operated by pulleys.

In order to build the full size version, Lopez first built a totally accurate, working scale model, complete with trap doors on each module, a process that took three weeks. "Everything here has real function," said Lopez pointing at his model. "it's based on mathematics, and physics (…) and next year I'll be able to automate it with radio frequency controls. That's not hard to do because I have all the servos." The full size version took more than 2 weeks.

The exterior of the pinata will be decorated in blue and green plastic bunting.

The various modules, also in visual replication of the bridge will be released at different times. Both end modules will release between 1:30pm and 2:30pm , in place of the project groundbreaking. Inside will be candy, vegetable seeds, air fresheners, commemorative pens, 2 for 1 dinners, and other prizes (see below for the list). At 5:00 pm the long center release of candy and goodies will take place.

Expected to attend the event are Governor Christine Gregoire, King County Executive Dow Constantine, Mayor Mike McGinn, members of the Seattle City Council, King County Council, Port of Seattle Commissioners, and many member of the South Park business community.

The closure and removal of the original bridge has put the community through changes since the roadway was a vital commercial lifeline for them. But it's also made them resilient and determined.

Maria VanHorn part of the community relations team for King County said, "We've been working on keeping people informed. It's not the best situation because the bridge is closed so we're trying to give you all the information you need to survive it. If people don't know, that's when rumors start."

The event will take place at the south end of the bridge at 14th Avenue S. and Dallas Ave. S.

Schedule:

1:30-2:30 — South Park Bridge Ground Breaking

The Devil Dancers kick-off the ceremony with our Governor and local politicians
Piñata Part I
Location: End of the red brick road, next to the river

2:30-4:00 — Business Casual Meet & Eat

Meet your local politicians at local restaurants, including members of City Council, County Council and Port Commissioners)
Locations: Muy Macho & Jaliscos

3:00-5:00 — Kids Activities & Music

Kids can get crafty with fun projects and meet their local fire-fighters
Location: Parking lot of Ken’s South Park Grocery, 14th and Sullivan

3:30-4:30 –Music by Mariachi Band Ayutla

A mariachi band brings music to our streets. The Mariachi Band Ayutla
Location: 14th Ave South & Cloverdale

4:30-5:30 –Music by Banda Gozona

Banda Gozona plays traditional banda music of Oaxaca. Lots of Sones y Jarabes, some waltzes, some marches, so get ready to shake your money-maker!
Location: All along 14th Ave South

5:00-6:00 — Piñata Part II

Piñata filled with candy, gift certificates, seed packets, and more.
Location: Old bridge deck (14th & Dallas)

6:30-8:00 — Open the Door to Art

Click here for more info on Open the Door to Art

For one hour, five artists will paint in front of a crowd while a DJ spins the tunes. Watch as doors salvaged from the historic Witch Hat House are transformed into works of art.
The doors will be auctioned off to the highest (silent) bidder.
Location: Napoli’s parking lot (14th & Cloverdale)

8:00-9:00 — Music by Hamanah Don

The band Hamanah Don is led by Tyler Richart. Tyler is a Lora player and singer of traditional music from West Africa: the music of the “Jeli”, or local songsters.

9:00-10:00 — Fire Performance Art

Fire Performance with Rusty Oliver
Location: South Bark Dog Park (Between Sullivan & Dallas on 14th)

10:00 — Party on…

What's inside the pinata

King County Roads: Candy, Vegi Seed Packets, Pens

Noise w/o Sound: Car Air Fresheners (soda pop scented), Pez dispensers

Oswaldo’s Hair Salon: Free Haircut

Jalisco’s: 2 Free Dinners

Napoli’s: $20 Gift Certificate

Via Vadi Caffe: $5 Gift Certificate

Juan Colorado: Dinner for 2

Video Morelos: Free Soccer Shirt

El Rincon Taco Truck: #1 Meal (4 tacos any meat)

Wiley’s Watersports: Free Wiley’s T-Shirt

Providence Regina House: Candy & Mariners window decals

Fantastic Sams (White Center): Salon Travel Kits

Locker Room Bar & Grill (White Center): Free Steak Dinner

Cat Thong Herb Store (White Center): $5 Gift Certificate

Seattle Silkscreen Company (White Center): (2) $15 certificates for custom T-Shirt

Smoke Shop (White Center): $7 Gift Certificate

Uncle Mike’s Barbecue (White Center): $10 Gift Certificate

El Paisons (White Center): Mexican Candy

White Center Pharmacy: $25 Gift Certificate

Regency Cleaners: Any 3 Garments Dry-Cleaned (excluding leather)

South Park Espresso (Touch of Italy): (2) Free Drink cards

Jugos y Tortas: 2 Fresh Fruit Drinks + a Free Torta

Caffe Umbria Coffee Roasters: 12oz Bag of Fresh Roasted Coffee Beans

SeaMar (WIC) Program: Crayons & stickers

SeaMar Medical Clinic: Pretzels & stickers

Muy Macho: (9) Gift Certificates worth approx. $10 each for meals

West 5 (West Seattle): $20 Gift Certificate

Loretta’s Northwesterner: (2) T-shirts + (3) Free Tavern Burger wooden coins

Video Mar: 2 Free Hours of Internet surfing

D.O.G. Dog’s Outdoor Gear: Free Leash & Collar

Tikal Bakery: $10 Gift Certificate for Guatemalan Bread

South Park Mail & Parcel: 1 Free Month Mailbox Rental

Todd & Kathy/Fresh Starts: Vegi Seed Packets

Ken’s SP Discount Store: Hats + Candy

Pop Chips: Popped Potato Chips

Cloverdale Family Dentistry: Toothbrush kits

Delicious Planet: Two dinners delivered to your home

The Natural Pet Pantry: $25 Gift Certificate for Dog treats

Kathy McA (resident): Candy

Panaderia y Pasteleria La Ideal: (10) gift certificates for Tres Leches Cake

Ahsha Miranda (Georgetown): Candy

Check here for the latest on the list of contents and updates to the schedule of events.

The South Park Bridge was closed in mid-2010 due to its aging condition.  The county estimates the new bridge will open by mid-2013, with project completion expected in late 2013.  The project is expected to employ about 125 people during the estimated 32-month construction period.