The city of Columbus and Lowndes County are closer to securing funding for a bridge to connect the Columbus Riverwalk to a downtown soccer complex, currently under construction.
The Lowndes County Board of Supervisors Monday agreed to pay for half of the matching funds needed for a grant for the project. The bridge, which will connect the sprawling soccer park just west of downtown to the Riverwalk will cost more than $600,000.
George Irby, special assistant to the director of federal programs for the city of Columbus, said the county”s portion of the grant would be about $62,000 and he would have solid figures at a later date.
Supervisors approved paying up to $65,000 toward the grant match, during their regular meeting, Monday.
The city of Columbus is applying for the grant through the Mississippi Department of Transportation. It is the same type of transportation-enhancement grant that paid for the Riverwalk, Irby said.
The city already has gotten clearance from MDOT on preliminary plans for the connector-bridge project.
The soccer park is under construction on 72 acres of land in the Burns Bottom area.
The $4.5 million park will feature 10 soccer fields with sidewalks, a bridge over Moore”s Creek and boardwalk. Utility lines, now hanging from poles, will be underground.
Eventually, planners hope to add features such as a miniature waterfall, playground and pavilions, but those items aren”t funded at this time.
Phillips Contracting Co. expects to finish well ahead of schedule, which puts the park at an Aug. 21, 2012 completion date. Construction began in mid-April.
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