Work to construct new sidewalks in Brewton will be funded by federal funds through a state grant project, city officials announced this week.
The City of Brewton received $166,934 for the Tiger Drive sidewalk project, according to a letter from Gov. Robert Bentley. The funds come from the Federal Transportation Alternatives Program, awarded through the state.
“We are pretty excited about it,” Brewton Mayor Yank Lovelace said, noting the grant was written to provide safe and accessible sidewalks to residents.
Brewton director of program management Connie Baggett said the city applied for funding for sidewalks on both Tiger Drive and Sowell Street, leading to O’Bannon Park.
“The city’s application for TAP funding included requests to build sidewalks on Tiger Drive by the municipal football stadium and Sowell Street, the entrance to O’Bannon Park,” Baggett said. “I am hopeful this grant includes funding to complete both those projects.”
The project is part of a long-term goal to make Brewton more walkable throughout the city. Earlier this year, Brewton residents and city leaders came together to make recommendations on a long-term master plan for the city, which included plans for major park renovations and improvements to city entrances. Making the city a more walkable community is one of the goals of the plan.
The city has also received funding from ATRIP to help repave Tiger Drive, where construction is under way on new classrooms for T.R. Miller High School.
Lovelace said he and Superintendent Lynn Smith have talked about how the sidewalk project can enhance the work being done at the high school and how engineers can work together.
Construction on the high school is expected to take about two years.