City gets $1 million for riverwalk project
By Gregg Mayer
Dispatch City Editor

Overgrown, tangled with weeds and impassable for the most part, a rugged two-mile stretch along the Tennessee-Tombigbee River will be cleared and paved with smooth concrete following this week's approval by state officials to spend $1 million on a river walkway in Columbus.

The city of Columbus was awarded $1.1 million from the state department of transportation, part of $31 million of federal funds funneled through the state and divided among Mississippi municipalities. City and Lowndes County officials will have to match the funds with $275,000 to fully pay for the proposed walkway.

Transportation Commissioner Zack Stewart announced the appropriated Transportation Equity Act funds (commonly called TEA 21 funds) on Tuesday.

"These enhancement funds were designed to supplement our transportation system by investing in projects like bicycle trails, landscaping, historic preservation and environmental mitigation," Stewart said in a prepared statement. "Coupled with the Mississippi Department of Transportation's everyday efforts to make our transportation system safe and provide mobility, these funds allow local communities the chance to make the places they live even better in the ways they see fit."

City officials haven't received notification from the state about receiving the funds, but said they are pleased to hear they were approved.
"We haven't heard officially from the state, but after hearing from The Commercial Dispatch about receiving these funds, it's good news and we look forward to continuing the process," said George Irby, director of the city's federal programs.

"That's great." Said Chris Chain of Main Street Columbus who initially promoted the walkway and the securing of the grant. "I think its great news for the community. I know there will be some maintenance involved. I hope the city and county (governments) will realize the value of it."

Mike Bowling, spokesman for the state department of transportation, said city leaders should get the official word in the mail within the next few days.

Officials want to construct a walkway along the Tennessee-Tombigbee River connecting Riverside Park to the Highway 82 bridge leading to Starkville. The proposed walkway will be approximately two miles long, most of it lighted and along the river. Benches will be interspersed approximately every 1,000 feet.

The idea for the project stemmed from a visit leaders took to Chattanooga, Tenn., where the city boasts the famous Riverwalk and million-dollar downtown aquarium. Chattanooga officials said the aquarium and Riverwalk were the impetus to economic development for the central part of the city.
Overall in Mississippi, the state department of transportation received 65 applications from cities, counties, universities and various organizations.

Some other TEA 21 appropriations approved by the state:
Mississippi State University: $1,095,838 (total with matching funds $1,369,797) for bike, pedestrian facility.
City of West Point: $364,800 (total with matching funds $456,000) for bike, pedestrian trail.
City of Meridian: $214,720 (total with matching funds $268,400) for multipurpose trail at Bonita Lakes.