Community organizations continue to assist with expenses related to the upcoming Rails to Trails project in Lawrenceburg.
The Lawrenceburg-Anderson County Tourism Commission committed to provide $20,000 toward the $60,000 local match required to go along with the $240,000 grant awarded by Kentucky’s Department for Local Government to build the trail. The City of Lawrenceburg and Anderson County Fiscal Court will each cover $20,000 of the remaining $40,000 towards the $60,000 local match. The city engineer’s office prepared and submitted the grant and will administer the project.
When constructed, the trail will extend roughly two miles between Tyrone Road and Industry Road, adjacent to the YKK factory. The highlight of the trail will be the 800-foot-long, 110-foot-high bridge, known as the Cedarbrook Viaduct, which crosses over Cedarbrook Road. The bridge was completed in 1889 and was part of the railroad project that includes the better known Young’s High Bridge, which spans the Kentucky River and is now owned by Vertigo Bungee. The Cedarbrook Viaduct will offer great views of the wooded areas and other natural beauty in the surrounding area to those who walk the trail.
So far, six local organizations have made donations or commitments to help cover the tourism office’s $20,000 local match, including:
- A $5,000 grant from the Lawrenceburg Rotary Club
- A $5,000 donation from ToyBurg
- A $2,000 donation from WesBanco
- A $500 donation from Blue Grass Energy
- A $500 donation from Kentucky Utilities Company
- A $2,500 commitment from the Lawrenceburg-Anderson County Economic Development Authority
- A commitment by Carbajal’s Garden Center to do $2,000 worth of in-kind work
Work on the trail won’t begin until necessary approvals from various state agencies are completed.
Members of the Lawrenceburg Rotary Club present a $5,000 check to Lawrenceburg-Anderson County Tourism Commission Executive Director Kendall Clinton during a club meeting.
Steven Seeberger (left), CEO of ToyBurg, and Dave Futrell, the Senior Director of Operations, pose inside an office at the company’s facility in Lawrenceburg. ToyBurg donated $5,000 towards the trail project, which covered the cost of a study needed before work can begin.
Michael I. Williams (left), President and CEO of Blue Grass Energy, presented Clinton with a check for $500 outside of the tourism office. The funds came from the energy cooperative’s Pennies for Purpose program.
Rick Pogrotsky, Vice President Community Relations Manager for WesBanco, presented Clinton with a check for $2,000 outside the bank’s downtown Lawrenceburg branch.