ANNISTON– An Anniston museum trail project has received a $199,180 federal grant to connect the Berman Museum and Longleaf Event Center.

Gov. Kay Ivey announced the award through the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs on Oct. 21. The project calls for a 950-foot-long, 8-foot-wide connecting trail.

In addition, the City of Anniston will contribute a $49,795 local match. As a result, the grant and match total $248,975.

Ivey notified Mayor Ciara Smith-Roston that the grant had been approved, according to ADECA.

Connecting History and Nature

The city’s grant application describes the project as a way to improve pedestrian access across the Anniston Museums and Gardens campus.

Specifically, the proposed connection addresses an uphill section between the Berman Museum and Longleaf Event Center. The application also describes switchbacks and resting points intended to improve access for older adults, people with disabilities, and families with strollers.

In addition, the pathway supports the campus’s combination of outdoor recreation and environmental education.

Anniston Museums and Gardens includes the Anniston Museum of Natural History, Berman Museum, and Longleaf Botanical Gardens. Its grounds also offer gardens, nature trails, and educational experiences centered on history and the natural world.

Federal Funding Administered by the State

The award is part of approximately $1.2 million in recreational grants for six Alabama communities.

The Recreational Trails Program receives funding through the Federal Highway Administration. However, ADECA administers the program in Alabama.

The program supports new trails, restoration work, trailhead facilities, and connections between recreational routes. It also allows projects that improve access for people with disabilities.

ADECA’s award announcement does not provide a construction start date or completion deadline for the Anniston project.