News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Livingston applying for grant funds to continue sidewalk improvements in the downtown area.
Downtown Revitalization Chair Gene Gantt said if awarded, walkways and drainage on connecting roads between Church and Spring Street would be updated.
“We’re known as one of the best walking towns anywhere around, so we want people to get out and enjoy the city and walk it with good sidewalks being ADA compatible so anybody that is handicapped can also take advantage of it,” Gantt said.
Gantt said the sidewalks mainly front commercial areas. Gantt said investing in the walkways is also an investment in local merchants. Gantt said the more pedestrians means that stores will have more traffic for window shopping.
“They’re going to have better sidewalks to walk on that are clean and neat,” Gantt said. “That’s beneficial to the merchants and the residents to take advantage of being outdoors.”
Gantt said the city should receive feedback on the application in the coming months. Gantt said the project will pair nicely with a some $1.5 million Church Street project already moving forward.
“The focus has been to improve the downtown,” Gantt said. “We do all that through the redevelopment committee that is appointed by the mayor and aldermen. We receive a portion of sales tax every year to fund some of the matching funds.”
