Sidewalks Project and Brow Park Clearing Complete

Ready to take a walk? Phase 2 of the Mentone sidewalk project is complete. The flashers at the crosswalk across 117 near East River Road are operational. It is now possible to enjoy a walk from the Mentone Market to the Moon Lake Library. The sidewalk was well used this summer, with campers, visitors, and local residents alike enjoying the smooth, safe, scenic surface.

As I’ve written about before in The Groundhog, the Town received a $50,000 grant from North Alabama Trails and Recreation to clear below the bluff and create a walking trail. The trail will be marked once the grass is established. Alex Watters completed the final clearing and rock placements. It is a total transformation and greatly adds to the natural beauty of Brow Park. When we ran out of funds, Alex generously donated additional time and equipment to make sure the project was complete. The Town contracted with Al Blackburn to hydroseed the cleared area. With all the recent rain, the grass is really beginning to grow. Take some time to come enjoy the view!

North Alabama Trails and Recreation has a new name: Yellowhammer Outdoor Development. Visit their new website at yellowhammeroutdoor.org and read about their projects. They are doing good work not only for Mentone but also for other communities in our area. This includes Cherokee Rock Village, as well as High Falls Park and Pisgah Gorge on Sand Mountain.

Hopefully construction will begin soon at the Moon Lake Campus building. We received only one bid for the project. Blackstone from Birmingham will be the contractor. There is not enough money in the Appalachian Regional Commission grant to do everything we originally wanted to do, so the Town will work with Blackstone to prioritize the most pressing needs of the building with the available funds.

Speaking of Moon Lake Campus, we are proud to have the great vendors there who are trying to create a fun and memorable shopping experience for local citizens and visitors. But remember, these are small business owners who need our support. When you think of clicking online or going out of town to buy unique gifts or items for yourself, shop local first! These folks may have exactly what you’re looking for. And shopping local not only helps these businesses, but the tax revenue helps the Town provide more services. Everyone wins.