MONTGOMERY— Gov. Robert Bentley has awarded a $100,000 grant to the city of Hartselle for a new walking and biking trail at Sparkman Park.
The half-mile long, 10-foot-wide asphalt trail will be the park’s first to accommodate cyclists and it will connect all of the park’s existing trails. Current trails are for walking and jogging only.
City officials say the new trail will give more area residents, particularly those who do not participate in organized sports, a reason to use and enjoy the park.
“Additional recreation opportunities encourage more Alabamians to get outdoors and exercise,” Bentley said. “The new trail will make Sparkman Park a more valuable community asset.”
The 90-acre park currently features six ball fields, two tennis courts, a civic center, swimming pool, seven soccer fields, a splash pad, concession stands and restrooms.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grant from funds made available by the Federal Highway Administration’s Recreational Trails Program. ADECA manages an array of programs supporting law enforcement and traffic safety, economic development, energy conservation, workforce development, water resource management and recreation development.
Bentley notified Hartselle Mayor Don Hall that the grant had been approved. The city is contributing $34,629 in matching funds to the project.
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Contact: Russell Sellers, Mike Presley