Warren gets OK for trail project

The town of Newton Grove will soon join the trend that’s been popping up around Sampson County lately of adding a walking trail. Hoping to add beautification and a health outlet to town, the project comes from a local Boy Scout who is planning to revive a trail at Weeks Park.

The announcement came during this week’s board meeting following a presentation made by Scout Troop 27 member Cullen Warren, who said he is working on his Eagle project.

“I was talking to my friend Will Blackman, and he identified a walking trail out at Weeks Park as a possible project but he decided to move to a different project, which was the helipad.”

With the option for the trail project now available, Warren brought it to his scoutmaster and he also agreed that it would be of great benefit to the town. The only step left was to bring it before the board and get the green light to move forward with the project.

“I talked to one of my scoutmasters in my troop and he thought the project would greatly benefit the town of Newton Grove, would give access to an exercise area and it‘ll also beautify part of that area,” Warren said. “So I am seeking to move forward with my project on creating a walking trail at Weeks Park.”

Warren then presented a sketch to board members and went over the details of how he’s planning the construction of the trail which will encompass most the park.

“I have created a sketch of a possible walking trail that would go around and incorporate the bridge at one area of a walking trail,” he said. “Then it’ll go behind the Newton Grove digital sign and be a general rectangle shape that would go around the greater Weeks Park area. I’m open to any suggestions with the project. This is near the beginning of the project, so now I’m just trying to move forward with it so we can get it done, if it is approved.”

He opened the floor for the board to ask any question or make suggestions. It was a pretty quick discussion, with all being in full agreement to allow the project.

“The only thing I’d comment on, and I have talked about it, and I’ve also had a lot of people come to me and ask is there any way in the world we can get a walking trail in Newton Grove,” Mayor Craig Warren said. “We’ve got a lot of people, including myself, that have to walk for health issues and I walk the streets, which is not safe. That did used to be a walking trail in the park area, so I think it’s a wonderful idea.”

The other question came from town clerk Amanda Bradshaw who was curious about the financials of the project.

“I have a quick question on the financial side,” she said. “My oldest did his Eagle Scout here and we did not have to run our money through the person who was obtaining the project — now I think it’s a rule. Is that true that you will have to deposit the money with us and then we write a check to the vendors to do it?”

The answer was uncertain as Warren had to check if that was an issue. Bradshaw, however, noted she was broaching the subject as the town had a system in place to handle that should it arise.

“I know that was something we had to do when my son did his project,” Bradshaw said. “There were some changes, so I just wanted you to be aware of it and that it won’t be a problem. We figured out a system for that, just to let you know we’ve got that handled.”

The only other issue about Warren’s trail project was that it could possibly run into the park’s historical memorial property. That piece of property is owned by the Historical Society and requires their permission before the trail can move forward, but the board mentioned it shouldn’t be a problem.

“We’ll have to get permission from the Historical Society, we’ll need to speak with Mrs. Ann Herring to get approval for you to go across that property line, but I don’t see that being a problem,” Bradshaw said.

“There is one more thing,” the younger Warren said, “and this is my plan before the stage of fundraising. Once I do start fund-raising, depending on how much I’m able to raise, I have considered adding some plants and some benches along the edges of the trail. I just wanted to point that out. If we’re able to do that, that might be something that I’ll look into.”

The board unanimously agreed to give Warren the go-ahead, contingent on getting the Historical Society’s OK as well.

“It sounds like you have a consensus from the board and we are all in agreement,” Mayor Warren said. “I think you’ve got a good favorable group here as long as we can that approval from the Historical Society. I think it’d be a big plus to the town and I like (it) because you’ve got safe parking — that, and it’s especially easier for elderly people, much like myself, so they are not on the highways. I’m looking forward to this.”