PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Two longtime advocates for public parks on former highway land, and a pedestrian bridge to connect the two, shared plans for an upcoming event on May 28 with the I-195 Redevelopment District Commission on Monday evening.

Sharon Steele and Olin Thompson drew applause from the commission.

Their organization, Building Bridges Providence, hopes to draw as many as 1,500 people to an afternoon of food, music and entertainment that will include the Matunuck Oyster Bar, the band Mark Cutler and Men of Great Cottage and a family of Big Nazo puppets.

That puppet family has created a story line to share with the public, Steele told the commissioners. They'll portray a homeless family, searching for the bridge they're supposed to live underneath. That search is an effort to draw attention to the need for the pedestrian bridge, Steele said.

To the dismay of advocates, the bridge has long been delayed. The commission heard details Monday from Executive Director Peter McNally that the state Department of Transportation should put the project out to bid within a few weeks.

But still, Steele reminded the commission, completion isn't expected until 2018.

In the interim, the newly forming nonprofit hopes to activate the planned park space and other, now-vacant, former highway land the commission is charged with developing.

Commissioners praised the initiative and welcomed the idea for more events. Commissioner Sandra Smith suggested a future event could revolve around entrepreneurs, the type of employees the commission hopes to attract to the former highway land.