News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The town of Monterey has broken ground on its Project Diabetes walking trail.
The trail will connect Burks Elementary and Monterey High School to the existing trail. Monterey Grant Administrator Dawn Kupferer said work will start at the high school first.
“The initial work started,” Kupferer said. “That would include mapping it out, calling 8-1-1 and doing all the general stuff like grubbing. It is going to be a little bit of a long process.”
The delivery of pressure treated wood for an outdoor class area next to Burks Elementary has been delayed.
“With the boarders being closed to Canada, we are not able to get the type of pressure treated wood in large quantities that we need for the wetland area next to the elementary school,” Kupferer said. “Which is really sad, because that is the area we always envisioned to have an environmental outdoor classroom.”
The project will extend the existing trail through downtown. The new section of the trail will allow safer corridors and provide opportunities for physical activity. Kupferer said the police department will use the trail for community outreach.
“The police department are very happy the trail is coming right by their office, because they will be able to use it for community policing and outreach programs,” Kupferer said.
Stubbs Construction of Crossville is the contractor for the project with a scheduled completion in February. Kupferer said the community joined together to make this trail happen.
“It really shows how we care about our kids by working to find this money to get these children the opportunity to walk to school,” Kupferer said.
The project consists of 490 linear feet of five feet wide sidewalk and 640 linear feet of eight foot walking/biking trail. A Connectivity Grant through the Tennessee Department of Health will pay for the project.
