FOX 14 TV Joplin and Pittsburg News Weather Sports |Miami, Okla. applying for grant to fund walking trail

Miami, Okla. applying for grant to fund walking trail

The City of Miami prepares to apply for a state grant to fund its Centennial Trail project.

The grant funds, totaling $160,000, would come from the Oklahoma Department of Tourism.

If awarded the money would fund the city's two phase project.

The first phase would create an asphalt trail linking Miami High School with NEO AYM College.

The second phase would link North Elm Street to Rockdale Avenue, making a complete circle of trails.

The grant would also fund benches, water fountains and bike racks.

"It's important for the health of the community," says Kim Horn, the Parks and Cemetery Manager for the City of Miami.  "One thing we looked at, there were state of the state statistics that Ottawa County was the least active county in Oklahoma - that really stuck out.  Those are scary numbers.  So it just gives people opportunities, a safe opportunity - not walking on the side of the road, to walk and get healthy."

The city will apply for the grant next week.

If the money is awarded the first phase of the project is expected to be complete by the end of the year.