During a Nov. 2 meeting, the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors approved a new addition to the exercise trail at the Roger Short Soccer Complex that runs alongside Moore Creek.
The second phase of the trail, slated to start next spring, will mirror the current trail, but it will have new exercise equipment and follow the opposite side of the creek, Lowndes County Recreation Deputy Director Tom Velek said.
“You’ll be able to jump on one (side), do all of it, go down to the other side, and then basically end where you started,” Velek told The Dispatch.
The trail at the soccer complex is one of the more popular paths in the county where people walk, though it’s far from their only option, Velek said.
Where are there walking trails and paths in the Golden Triangle? What are the benefits of walking?
Why walk?
Because walking is accessible and usually free, it can be an easy way to increase daily physical activity, which comes with a range of benefits. According to the Mayo Clinic, a regular brisk walk can increase energy levels, strengthen bones and muscles and prevent conditions like Type 2 diabetes and strokes.
The American Heart Association recommends walking at least 30 minutes per day to reduce the risk for chronic disease, but the faster and more frequent walks are, the greater the benefits.
Though walking can be done alone, it can also be a community effort. Velek said the recreation department has spent the last two years looking to develop more passive recreation activities, like walking, that locals can get involved with.
He started the “Walk Into Spring” campaign in 2023, encouraging people to get out and active after the holidays. After finishing a walk, participants could send in a photo to be entered for a chance to win prizes donated by local businesses. The campaign will return this spring for a third year, Velek said.
“We want to just find ways that we can really … encourage people to get out there, be healthy, be active and do it on their own time,” he said. “Walking is the simplest, easiest way to do it, and we’ve got a lot (of walking paths) for one county.”
Where are the walking paths in Lowndes County?
There are more than 15 walking paths and trails in Lowndes County, many of which are located at community centers like the New Hope, Plum Grove and Crawford community centers. Those trails, as well as ones at Anderson Grove Park and Concord Minipark, are each one-fourth of a mile long.
The Columbus Riverwalk features a 4.4-mile concrete trail that follows along the Tombigbee River. The trail also has benches, picnic tables and a butterfly garden.
Another water-adjacent route is the Lake Lowndes Loop Trail, which is a moderately-difficult 4.5 miles looping the lake. Also at Lake Lowndes, the Opposum Nature Trail winds 3.5 miles through the back of the park. High-achievers can extend the trail an extra 2.1 miles by continuing to walk along the park road to the end of the park.
At Plymouth Bluff Environmental Center, there are nearly four miles of trails that have been maintained by boy scouts of the Pushmataha Area Council since 1982. The longest trek at Plymouth Bluff includes the River and Scout trail, which form a 1.5-mile loop.
In Oktibbeha?
Mayor Lynn Spruill said Starkville has several multi-use paths popular for walking, including a 1.5-mile concrete path along Lynn Lane, from McKee Park to South Montgomery Street, and the College View Connector, a 1-mile path built in 2023 from a partnership with Mississippi State University.
“We joined with MSU, and we had a (Transportation Alternatives Program) grant that (funded the path) that goes from Highway 182 to College View,” Spruill said.
Several Starkville parks offer walking paths. At Cornerstone, Spruill said there is a 1.1-mile circular trail. J.L. King Park boasts a trail that was originally designed for mountain biking, but is a great option for a wooded walk, Spruill said. There’s also a walking path under construction at McKee Park, she said.
MSU has its own 1-mile walking and jogging track that loops around Chadwick Lake. Located next to the Joe Frank Sanderson Center, the trail is accessible for people using wheelchairs and strollers, according to All Trails.
At Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge, there are eight defined nature trails ranging in difficulty from easy to moderate.
The longest trail at the refuge is a 1.75-mile loop called the Scatterown Trail, which has moderately steep terrain and ridgeline views from the North Central Hills.
McRae is a general assignment and education reporter for The Dispatch.
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You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 29 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
