ATHENS, Ala. — New grants to the city of Athens mean that the Swan Creek Gateway, which connects recreational facilities at the City's Sportsplex and Swan Creek Park such as an archery range, fields for baseball, softball and soccer, swimming pool, disc golf and playgrounds, will be getting an expansion and upgrade.
One grant from Walmart is worth $5,000, the local Resource Conservation and Development Council, is for $4,000.
Recreation Department Director Bert Bradford said his department will use these funds to purchase materials, construct and install kiosks with signage, benches and a map. One kiosk will be at the U.S. 72 trailhead under construction. The second will be at the Sportsplex trailhead, which is off U.S. 31.
The City of Athens says that it will combine the Walmart grant with its $200,000 grant from ADECA for the trailhead’s parking area. The ADECA grant is funding Grayson Carter and Son Construction’s portion of the project, which is the base, curb and gutter for the parking area and the new road connecting to it. City of Athens crews will do part of the trailhead work, such as paving, and the Walmart grant will help fund this portion.
Improvements will also be made to the trailhead under construction south of U.S. 72 near Railroad Bazaar.
The city says that the Swan Creek Greenway is 2.3 miles and will lengthen another 1,200 feet with the new trailhead parking area. The greenway extends from U.S. 72 to the north by Swan Creek Park, Athens Middle School’s walking track and on to the City’s Sportsplex. The trail offers opportunities to see wildlife indigenous to northern Alabama, including deer, squirrel, chipmunk and foxes, along with numerous types of fowl and fish.
The trail includes bridges, a restored covered bridge and benches.
