Work begins on Tollgate Greenway path to Monte Sano State Park
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Marie Bostick called the collaborative effort "a great beacon to the desire and the support that this community gives to our natural environment." Photo: Derek Lacey/Axios
Huntsville and the Land Trust of North Alabama officially began work Thursday on the Tollgate Greenway.
Why it matters: The pathway will offer a pedestrian route to Monte Sano State Park for everyone from cyclists and hikers to parents with strollers.
Catch up quick: The 1.2-mile paved path, stretching from the Bankhead Parkway parking lot to the state park, is set to open next spring depending on the weather, said Marie Bostick, executive director of the Land Trust.
- The $1.7 million cost was funded in part by the city, which approved the expenditure last month, and includes $500,000 raised by the Land Trust and $150,000 from Huntsville Utilities.
What they're saying: "It's going to open the door for so many people," Bostick said, "which is one of the things that really makes it exciting for me."
- "It's amazing the number of people that care about this project, and it's shown through their support," she said.
Zoom in: The multiuse greenway follows a segment of the historic Toll Gate Road on Monte Sano that dates back to the 1800s.
- The path, constructed by Grayson Carter & Son Contracting, will climb the western slope of the mountain and double the length of the existing natural surface trail.
Context: The project is the brainchild of Dr. Noel Estopinal, who moved to Huntsville nearly 40 years ago for a job.
- He spoke firsthand about how quality-of-life amenities like greenways help the city retain employees moving here for work, alluding to this week's Space Command announcement.
- "We stayed here because of the quality of life in the community," he said. "And this type of project only builds on that."
What's next: The work means the trailhead parking lot on Bankhead Parkway will be closed until the new greenway opens.