A GREENWAY NETWORK site, the Mustang Trail, was enjoyed by Walker Valley High School students Thursday. Banner Photo, JOYANNA WEBER
During a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Cleveland/Bradley County Greenway board chairman Cameron Fisher presented the school with a sign to be displayed near the walkway.
Principal Danny Coggin said the paved trail has already been used by almost every student in the school.
“You look out here and at times there are about 150 kids (walking the trail),” Coggin said.
The school has incorporated use of the Mustang Trail into the day as part of the Coordinated School Health “Brain Breaks.” Brain Breaks are a chance during the day for students to be active.
“It gets their body moving, which helps their mind ‘move,’” Coggin said.
Plans to enhance the trail are already in place. The .36 mile track encircles a field where a Frisbee golf course has been set up. Benches have been placed along the trail.
Educational elements will be added also, according to Coggin.
“We’re going to have message boards, which are going to have ... historical information from the area. Our history classes are going to do that, and our photography class is going to take pictures of those historical things,” Coggin said.
The walking trail is also open to the public.
“Whenever the gates [are] open I want them to feel like they can use it, so it’s a great opportunity,” Coggin said.
The track was officially finished in February by Caldwell Paving. The trail features two bridges built for the school by Bradley Central High School’s residential construction class with materials funded by a Lowe’s “Local Hero” grant.
Grants covered about $20,000 of the $30,000 project, according to Bradley County Coordinated School Health Director Andrea Lockerby. The rest came from local donations, in-kind donations and Coordinated School Health.
The “Eat Well. Play More.” state grant, a donation from Wright brothers construction and a Tennessee Greenway and Trails grant also made the Mustang Trail possible.
