Cumberland County’s Obed River Park will use a new Community Development Block Grant to repair the erosion along the park trail.
County Deputy Mayor Beth Wyatt-Davis said over recent years, the asphalt continued to break off and fall into the river. Wyatt-Davis said the county applied for the grant to preserve the park, hoping to stabilize the situation to keep the beauty of the river and the trail.
“We would lose this trail if we didn’t get this grant money,” Wyatt-Davis said. “People love to walk this trail. A nice, paved trail in our park here, right in our community, right in the footprint, the city limits, of Crossville.”
Wyatt-Davis said the engineering costs and materials to repair the trail will take the grant money. Wyatt-Davis said they will need to re-engineer the forefront of the trail, as the damage is extensive.
Wyatt-Davis said the funds will pay for the labor costs of putting the trail back together.
Wyatt-Davis said the grant will buy retaining wall materials, repave areas that have been washed out, purchase riprap and buy other materials as needed.
Wyatt-Davis said she is hoping the project will finish by next year.
Wyatt-Davis said the grant saves tax payer dollars, as the county would either be required to pay for the fix or lose the trail.