Tennessee Central Trail Considering Future Expansion

Members of the Tennessee Central Trail Board will consider future expansion towards Monterey and Cane Creek Park.

Tara Wohlgemuth serves as the Regional Director for Tennessee’s Department of Environment and Conservation.

“The purpose of [expansion] is because we would like it to be not just for local connections and [area residents], but we want to be able to market the trail as well as an economic development tourism factor,” Wohlgemuth said. “So something that will attract folks from other parts of the state and even the nation, we hope, to come to Cookeville in order to get this great experience on our rail trail.”

The Tennessee Central Trail Board met earlier this week to further discuss the potential expansion in its monthly meeting.

Wohlgemuth said the Trail Board doesn’t have a timeline for the proposed expansions as of now, but looks to gather resources for when the time comes.

“I think initially we have some older designs that make it easier to go, potentially, one way versus another way,” Wohlgemuth said. “The engineering work, some of it, has been done and that takes some time. But, obviously it will be dictated by what kind of funding we can achieve, if we go out and seek different grants and have to do fundraising for match amounts on those grants.”

The Trail Board does not currently receive grant funding but could apply for it through various state departments. Potential expenses from grant matches could potentially be covered through donations.

Wohlgemuth said the trail will also look to continue its agreement with the railroad as R.J. Corman takes over the Nashville & Eastern Railroad.

The next Trail Board meeting will take place Monday, Feb. 25 at the Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce beginning at Noon.