Ottawa Ontario - With the sun setting in the distance, Wednesday evening's pop-up picnic at the Prince of Wales rail bridge would have been just like any other, if it weren't for the line of police officers guarding the entrance to the Quebec side.
 
Ignoring the no-trespassing signs on the chain link fence below, about 25 people showed up for a picnic to peacefully protest the city's plans to build a steel gate on the decommissioned rail bridge to keep visitors away.
 
Much to the chagrin of people who have been coming to watch sunsets there for years, the city's infrastructure department wants to spend $250,000 to install barriers on both ends.
 
"It will be sad to see them try to spend a quarter of a million dollars to block it out just so people can break in again," said Stephanie Pichette, sitting next to the rail tracks with a spread of brie, baguette slices, and fruit on a blanket.
 
She has been coming to bridge for the last three years to hang out with friends and watch sunsets.
 
She wants to see the city find ways to keep the bridge open instead of seeing it abandoned behind steel barriers.
 
"It's another totally short-sighted thing from the City of Ottawa," said her friend, Tyler Blanchett.
 
The city is required by Transport Canada to ensure the bridge is safe and to prevent unauthorized access.
 
Mayor Jim Watson has noted that "it's not safe to be on an unused, rickety old train bridge," adding the structure is a liability for the city.
 
Some residents are pushing the city to come up with another plan to keep the 130-year-old bridge accessible.
 
Michelle Reiner, who helped organize the pop-up picnic, urged the city to be a little more "visionary" in its approach.
 
Some people have suggested using the $250,000 for safety upgrades such as adding railings and missing tiles.
 
"Continuing the abandoning of the grounds is a waste," said Reiner.
 
"You can look at High Line Park in downtown Manhattan. There's a lot of urban, beautiful revitalization examples in North America and around the world."
 
Co-organizer Aileen Duncan, who is a member of the Ottawa Rail Bridge Project group, plans to hold consultations with interested groups to brainstorm new ideas.
 
"It's a beautiful space and I believe it could be made so much better," she said.
 
More than 1,500 people have signed an online petition to keep the bridge open.
 
Joe Lofaro.