Trail being built to connect parts of Wilmington

Are you looking for a way to get around town without using gas?

Monday, Wilmington residents had a chance to learn more about the planned Cross-City Trail linking parts of Wilmington with Wrightsville Beach.

A bike and pedestrian path will pave the way for people to get out of their cars and on to their feet.

The first leg of the Cross-City trail, paid for by $1 million of the $21 million parks and open space bond referendum passed in 2006, will connect Halyburton Park with the Cameron Art Museum.

Wilmington recreation supervisor Andrea Talley said, “Everybody that I’ve talked to is really looking forward to the trail, and just wants to know how quickly it can be built.”

Wilmington resident Karen Malina said, “I come to Halyburton Park probably like five times a week, sometimes seven. So, I’m all for more trails, more nature walks. I mean anything that will promote physical fitness for our neighborhood, I’m all for it.”

Once it is all said and done, the Cross-City Trail will be 10 miles long. Walkers, bikers, joggers can start at Halyburton Park and go all the way to Wrightsville Beach.

The path will also connect Empie Park, UNCW and Eastwood Road.

The majority of the Eastwood Road leg of the project is complete, and it is already being put to good use.

Wilmington resident Meghan Davis said, “I love it. I used to always want to ride my bike from where I lived down to the beach, and it was real hard with all this traffic and the busy road, so I’m really excited that they have this bike path so I don’t have to worry about all the cars passing by.”

The hope is the entire project will be done in the next five to seven years.

The path connecting Halyburton with the Cameron Art Museum is expected to be done by the beginning of next year.

A section of the trail not funded by the bond is already done along Military Cutoff Road.