Work to begin on greenway trails

The city of Greenville will soon have three more miles of walking and biking trails.

The city and Friends of Greenville Greenways held a groundbreaking ceremony Friday afternoon for the South Tar River Greenway along the Tar River on Ash Street.

“We have been working on these greenways for a long time,” said Mayor Pat Dunn. “It provides opportunities to walk in non-congested areas. It offers an opportunity to enjoy the natural world.”

The project includes a the 10-foot wide walking and biking trail that eventually will connect Town Common Park, beginning at the Greenville Bridge, to the Green Mill Run Greenway at Green Springs Park.

It also is toinclude a connection from the greenway to Beech Street.

“When this project is completed, we will have over five miles of greenways,” said David Brown, city engineer. “The city's commitment to greenways continues, and this project is just one example of that.”

The project will be separated into two phases, beginning with a half-mile trail from the Greenville Bridge to North Warren Street. The second phase will take 2.5 miles of greenway from North Warren Street to Green Springs Park. The entire project will add 3.1 miles of trails to the city.

The project will be funded by Federal appropriations through a grant in the Federal Highway Administration budget for nearly $1.5 million.

The Friends of Greenville Greenways is holding a capital campaign to purchase benches and trash receptacles for the trail. Visit www.froggs.org for more information.

Contact Josh Humphries can at jhumphries@coxnc.com or (252) 329-9565.