- January 17, 2026
The ribbon was cut at the Rainbow Bridge Event. Photo by Hannah Hodge
A family walks one the rainbow bridge. Photo by Hannah Hodge
Christina Ryan and Loki crosses the rainbow bridge. Photo by Hannah Hodge
Renata Slusarz'hunter kisses Trixie at the Rainbow Bridge Event. Photo by Hannah Hodge
A photo of the Rainbow Bridge. Photo by Hannah Hodge
A Rainbow Bridge commemorating the lives of family pets has a permanent new home at Holland Park in Palm Coast.
Organized by the animal rescue nonprofit S.M.A.R.T. — Saving Missing Animals Response Team — of Flagler County and created in partnership with the City of Palm Coast and East Coast Animal Hospital, the Rainbow Bridge honors family pets who have died and the lasting impact they have on their families.
The bridge is located at the back of Holland Park — 18 North Florida Park Drive — next to the softball fields and tennis courts.
A ribbon cutting ceremony for the bridge was held on Jan. 17. S.M.A.R.T. founder Caroline Johnson said it was incredible, with a few hundred people — including city officials, sponsors and members of the public — turning out in support.
The bridge has been the result of two years of work between many people, Johnson told the Observer. She's happy to finally see it come to fruition.
"It was a great effort between so many people," she said. "S.M.A.R.T., the city and East Coast really worked hard together, for two years now, to get this thing off the ground and find a good location for it and just bring it to life."
The bridge will serve as more than just a metaphorical way to remember the pets, though: Anyone who wants to can purchase a custom-engraved memorial pet tag through S.M.A.R.T.'s website that will then be installed on the bridge as a permanent memorial.
Johnson said S.M.A.R.T. already has about 50 orders for engraved tags. To order a tag, simply go to smartflagler.com/rainbow-bridge/ to place the order. The tags cost $30 and can include the pet's first and last name as well as the year the pet died and "crossed the rainbow bridge."
"Anything past the minimal charges that we'll pay for the tags and the maintenance, everything else will go toward helping [S.M.A.R.T] with our mission, with the the vet bills for the rescue dogs," she said.
The bridge was built by PWC Builds, a local construction company that does residential and commercial work. Johnson said the PWC team designed a "river" of gravel under the bridge and completed the landscaping as well.
Palm Coast City Council members Mayor Mike Norris, Vice Mayor Theresa Pontieri, and Council Member Ty Miller also attended the ribbon cutting ceremony. Pontieri also read a city proclamation in honor of S.M.A.R.T. and the Rainbow Bridge dedicating Jan. 17 as "Rainbow Bridge Day" in Palm Coast, according to a Palm Coast Facebook post.
The bridge is "a new space for remembrance, reflection, and healing for those honoring beloved pets who have crossed the Rainbow Bridge," the post said.
