City of Whitesville Selected to Receive $28,776 Grant Award for Community Park Improvement Project
Grant Will Fund Resurfacing of the Whitesville Community Park Trail
FRANKFORT, Ky. (October 28, 2019) – The Department for Local Government (DLG) today announced that the City of Whitesville has been selected to receive a $28,776 Recreational Trails Program (RTP) allocation for resurfacing of the Whitesville Community Park Trail. Upon federal approval, the allocation will provide for trail leveling and the installation of a new asphalt surface.
“We are excited today to announce $28,776 in RTP grant funding for the City of Whitesville,” said Gov. Bevin. “Our Department for Local Government works closely with local officials to address priority projects that will most positively impact their communities. This significant investment will enable vital recreational improvements to be made.”
The Community Park Trail, nearly three-quarters of a mile long, was last paved in 2001 and is heavily used by a wide variety of community members. The trail is suffering from deep cracks and bumps in the surface which make it difficult to use. The park, located directly across the parking lot from the Whitesville Senior Center and in close proximity to three schools, is the only park and recreational trail in the City of Whitesville and is exceptionally popular with the community. The nearest similar facility is approximately 15 miles outside of the city limits.
According to citizens, 30 to 50 people use the trail daily and cross-country running teams from two area high schools utilize the trail for practice. Children and teens frequently use the trail to bike and skate after school and during the summer, and senior citizens, many of whom use assisted walking devices such as canes and walkers, find that the trail’s current conditions are especially dangerous. Additionally, wheelchair-dependent users have a difficult time navigating the trail’s current rough surface.
“Properly maintaining the Community Park Trail will help ensure that Whitesville’s main recreational facility can be safely enjoyed by all members of the community,” said DLG Commissioner Sandra Dunahoo. “I’m hopeful that with the approval of these funds, the citizens of Whitesville will continue to have quality outdoor recreational opportunities for years to come.”
Recreational Trails Program
The Recreational Trails Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The funds are administered by the Department for Local Government, an arm of the Office of the Governor dedicated to supporting local officials and communities, to selected grant applicants for the creation and development of recreational trails. For more information, go to http://kydlgweb.ky.gov/.
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