Birmingham, Ala (WIAT) Birmingham area projects are the big winners as the state doles out project money for trails and parks. Governor Robert Bentley announced more than $700,000 for in grants for the construction or improvement of 14 trail projects in Alabama. The biggest chunks of the money go to Birmingham's Red Mountain Park ($100,000) and Birmingham Urban Mountain Peddlers to construct nine miles of trail at Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park (also $100,000).
Here's the entire list of grants with more details.
Listed below are the grant locations, amounts, recipients and trail project descriptions:
Birmingham – $100,000 to Red Mountain Greenway and Recreational Area Commission for completion of the nearly 10-mile Eastern Trail System which is the first phase of the 1,200-acre park atop Red Mountain. The park will incorporate remnants of the iron-ore industry which previously operated at the site and will be one of the nation’s largest urban parks when completed.
Cherokee County – $100,000 to the Parks and Recreation Board of Cherokee County to acquire 100 acres of property and construct eight miles of trail at Cherokee Rock Village Park. The board will purchase two miles of the abandoned Tennessee, Alabama & Georgia Railroad track for trail use. An additional six miles of woodland trails will also be built and the newest land purchase will expand the park to 300 acres. There are 12 miles of existing trail at the park.
Cherokee County – $4,200 to the Alabama Trails Association to construct an overnight shelter for backpackers on the Pinhoti Trail. The 10-by-12-foot wooden shelter will accommodate four to six people. The Pinhoti Trail begins near Talladega and stretches for 100 miles in Alabama and 140 miles in Georgia where it connects with the Appalachian Trail.
Eufaula – awarded $100,000 to enable the city to purchase property adjacent to Yoholo Micco, the Creek Indian Trail. The city will use the more than two acres of property at the beginning of the 2.5-mile trail to install picnic tables and benches. The property will serve as a location for special events and the city’s horticulture department plans to build a greenhouse on a portion of the land. Yoholo Micco (also known as Chief Eufaula) was a Creek Indian chief in the early 1800s. The trail parallels Lake Eufaula.
Florala – $28,280 to the city of Florala to lengthen a recreational trail at Florala State Park. The project will add 1,000 feet of paved trail to the existing 1.4-mile trail extending it to the Florida state line. The goal is to link the trail with one in Florida and encircle Lake Jackson.
Marengo County – $17,727 to the Southwest Alabama Economic Development Association to construct a 1,110-foot-long walking trail in the Dixons Mills community. The solid surface track will be built adjacent to Alabama Highway 43 on property owned by the Dixons Mills Civic Club.
Jefferson-Tuscaloosa-Bibb Counties – $100,000 to Birmingham Urban Mountain Peddlers to construct nine miles of trail at Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park. BUMP is a non-profit organization that has built trails and promoted mountain biking throughout north-central Alabama. Volunteers will use tools provided to Tuscaloosa County through an earlier Recreational Trail grant to build the trail.
Limestone County – $9,600 to the Alabama Elk River Development Agency to pave a 1-mile trail near the town of Elkmont. Paving the existing crushed-stone surface with asphalt will make it safer for walking and enable it to be used by bicyclists.
Mobile –$7,200 for the city to install signage along the Dog River Scenic Blueway. The signs will provide directions to point paddlers and boaters to parks along the waterway, boat launches and river tributaries. Educational signs describing the area’s history and ecology also will be installed.
Paint Rock –$18,500 to construct a 0.2-mile trail adjacent to Town Hall and the Senior Citizen Center. The 6-foot-wide paved, hour-glass-shaped track will be for pedestrians and non-motorized vehicles.
Pike Road –$36,000 to develop a parking area and other features at the beginning of a 4-mile trail that is under construction. The trailhead at U.S. 231 and Meriwether Road will have restrooms and accessibility to drinking water for trail users. Playground and picnicking areas will be incorporated into the trailhead later. The 6-foot-wide trail extends to the intersection of Pike Road.
Talladega – $100,000 to the Alabama Horse Council to rehabilitate and reconstruct 11 miles of trail for horseback riding and hiking. Trailhead facilities will include a parking area, primitive campsites, a temporary restroom and corrals, stables and water troughs. Signage will be installed along the trail.
Tallassee –$100,000 to develop a 2,180-foot long asphalt trail from the Lake Talisi Riverwalk to Eubanks Street. The eight-foot-wide trail will have some elevated wooden walks and ramps for pedestrian and bicycle traffic.
Multiple locations – $8,000 to Alabama Hiking Trail Society Inc. to purchase trail building and maintenance equipment and educational resources. Area chapters of the society will immediately use the equipment to work on trails at the Walls of Jericho in Jackson County, the Coosa Wildlife Management Area and Flagg Mountain in Coosa County and adjacent to the Perdido River in Baldwin County. Some of the funding will be used to create trail maps, print brochures and display material to promote hiking.
