Columbus is pursuing a $100,000 grant to improve pedestrian options near the soccer complex and Riverwalk.
George Irby, the city’s assistant director for community development, said the city will apply for a “Rails to Trails” grant from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to connect the soccer complex to the Riverwalk. The city council unanimously approved the application Tuesday.
Irby said the $100,000 grant — with a $25,000 match from the city, paid through in-kind services from the public works department — will fund a new walkway that’s about 250 feet long. He said it will go through the soccer complex, near the circular walking path, over Moore Creek and will connect to the Riverwalk.
Irby said the grant application is due next Thursday and the city should know if it’s received the grant by June. Work on the project could start in mid-summer, if the city is awarded the grant.
“We’re continually working to add to a healthy recreational quality of life,” Irby said. “This will give opportunities to walk and exercise during a soccer match. It’s recreation wherever we can find it to help quality of life.”
Irby said some people complained that the city should be using money to improve sidewalks, parks, paving and other projects. He did not deny the need for improvement in some of those areas, but said the funding cannot be used for such projects.
Mayor Robert Smith explained further, saying that “Rails to Trails” grant has to be for specific purposes.
“This grant is very specific in the definition of how it can be used,” Smith said. “It has to be used for trails, which we would honor, and can’t be used for roadwork, sidewalks, paving or other things like that.”
Alex Holloway was formerly a reporter with The Dispatch.
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