There’s a bit of new life in the Lovell walking path project.
The long-proposed project was given a shot in the arm last week with the appearance of County Commissioner Keith Grant, project supporter Marilyn Haskell and engineer Willie Bridges at the March 30 Lovell Town Council special council meeting.
The council had earlier expressed doubt about a request for the town to sponsor future grants for funding the walking path, which would run west from the North Big Horn Senior Center to Highway 32, then southwest to the Foster Gulch Golf Course, back east along Lane 13 to Highway 32 and finally north to U.S. 14A/310.
Members of the council had worried during an earlier meeting about the cost of upkeep and maintenance on the walking path if the town sponsors the project.
Grant said the Lovell Recreation District board had been interested in applying for construction grants but could not be a sponsor because the applicant must be a governmental entity, and he said the county doesn’t want to favor one town over the rest.
Aware of the town’s concern, Grant said maintenance on the walking path would be minimal for at least 10 years, probably longer.
Councilman Bruce Wolsey said he wonders about the cost of ongoing care from snow removal in the winter to weed control and trash pickup in the summer, adding, “I don’t know if we have enough personnel.” Councilwoman Jodi Lindsay wondered if the town could send its employees outside of the town limits for maintenance.
“I think we would have more than enough people who would adopt a portion of the path and take care of it,” Grant replied. “We could work with Weed and Pest for spraying. I think it’s a good project and we could make it work.”
Grant said he is very concerned about people walking or jogging at night on county roads, saying he has a “serious safety concern.” He noted that the Wyoming Dept. of Transportation might help with the portion from Lane 13 to U.S. 14A/310 as part of a planned Highway 32 project and is also interested in an underpass under Highway 32 where the path would intersect the highway.
Both Grant and Bridges said pathway easements could be used to match grant money, and Bridges noted a number of possible funding sources including the State Loan and Investment Board, an economic development enhancement grant, U.S. Forest Service and Game and Fish specific grants and a WyDOT TEAL grant.
Grant suggested that a board be formed to oversee walking path upkeep and suggested that it could be run through the recreation department.
“I don’t think maintenance would be a problem,” he said. “We have great people in this town. If we can find leadership in a project like this we’ll have lots of help.”