Mobile Uses Fed Funds to Fight Obesity, Expand Walking Trails

City officials are dedicating portions of Mobile’s CDBG funds for walking trail projects in parks around the city

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By John Sharp

AL.com

With Mobile’s continued struggle to counterattack a lingering battle with obesity, city officials are earmarking more money for new walking trails at long-neglected parks.

The latest project, which kicked off Wednesday, dedicates $80,000 in federal community development block grant money for a new trail at Michael Figures Park in the Toulminville neighborhood northwest of downtown Mobile.

“I visualize this will give (the residents) an opportunity to have a good, safe place to walk,” Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson said.

The idea of a walking trail started more than three years ago when a representative with the Black Military Workers, a new veterans organization representing approximately 60 Mobile residents, proposed the walking trail as an anchor for future projects. The group is privately fundraising to add monuments and a wall dedicated to military veterans.

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