Walking trail to be upgraded this summer

Leila Chanid walks the Westgate Park walking trail about every other day.

The 25-year-old said she has been a trail user for about seven years.

“Some improvements would be nice,” Chanid said as she kept up a brisk walking pace Tuesday morning. “Mulch or something on the ground would help.”

Chanid doesn’t take much time to chat, going on her way along the 3.25-mile walking trail that is rustic and sometimes, crowded. Walkers, runners and bicyclists have to watch out for tree roots which the city spray paints a bright color to make them more visible, an occasional downed tree and each other.

But improvements are coming this year that will make the trail more user-friendly while preserving its natural characteristics. Dothan officials have received a $100,000 Recreational Trail Program administered by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.

This money, along with a $25,000 contribution from the city, will fund:

n  Widening the trail to 12 feet

n  Improve drainage

n  Regrade and resurface the trail

Kim Meeker, Dothan Leisure Services assistant director for operations, said he hopes the project will begin by the summer. He expects a public hearing to be scheduled soon.

“We are still in the public input phase,” Meeker said. “We met with the Runner’s Club several months ago. I feel like I have an initial feel from them about things that are important.”

But the city still wants to hear from bicyclists.

“We’ve gotten a lot of input from people over the years on the need to have work done,” Meeker said.

The project has been estimated to cost about $350,000. It is a possibility the Wiregrass Foundation could contribute funds to the project. Foundation president Vince Edge said the board is expected to vote in June on whether or not to give the city up to $225,000 for the project.

One of the primary concerns at the park is space for all users. A multi-use trail by definition has to be at least 12 feet wide, Meeker said. The Westgate trail is currently four feet to 16 feet wide, depending on the location.

“It is not really built to accommodate both runners and walkers and cyclists,” he said. “From time to time, a biker comes around a corner and they are right on a walker or runner. Both are in danger. They haven’t been able to co-exist that well. Dothan really needs a place cyclists can go and safely bicycle. At least a widening of the the trail and signage directing walkers or cyclists to keep to the right, makes it much more acceptable.”

The next question to be resolved involves the surface of the trail. There is a requirement the trail be handicap accessible.

“The best way to make it accessible is with asphalt and asphalt is unacceptable. Runners and walkers are totally against that,” Meeker said.

The city is considering an engineered hard wood fiber, like a mulch, which meshes together and is firm enough for a wheelchair. Because it has a tendency to wash out, Meeker said timbers will be placed on either side of the trail and a pine tar/aggregate mix used in sloped areas.

City Commissioner Taylor Barbaree said the trail is a popular recreation and exercise location.

“It is tranquil there and it offers some peace of mind to people,” he said. “Walking it helps me sort out my day.”

The city has one year to use the grant money.