Trail will provide new access to Shelby Farms from Greenline

Ever since the Cordova portion of the Shelby Farms Greenline opened nearly two years ago, bicyclists and pedestrians have asked for a new connecting trail into Shelby Farms Park.

The construction work that got under way this week indicates they're about to get their wish.

Crews are building a paved connection from the Greenline into the park, with a crossing on Mullins Station. From there it will extend to the Chickasaw Trail, a paved path coursing through Shelby Farms.

"This new access point will provide better, safer access into the park for Greenline users," said Jen Andrews, CEO of Shelby Farms Park Conservancy, in a prepared statement.

Funding for the project came from a $100,000 gift from the Hyde Family Foundation and $65,000 in Community Enhancement Grants allocated by Shelby County Commissioners Steve Basar, George Chism and David Reaves.

Construction is expected to last until the end of June. During that time, Gates 9 and 10, which lead into and out of the park north of the Woodland Discovery Playground, will be closed intermittently to allow for grading and paving of the new trail.

The Greenline, a paved multi-use trail, extends some 10.65 miles from Tillman in Binghamton east to the old railroad station in Cordova. The initial 6.5-mile stretch from Tillman to Farm Road at Shelby Farms opened in October 2010, followed by completion in June 2016 of the 4.15-mile stretch to Cordova.

The Appling trail project follows the completion last year of a connecting ramp and stairs to the Greenline near the Perkins Road bridge.

Shelby County officials are working on another eastward extension of the greenline to the Lenow Road area.

Reach Tom Charlier at thomas.charlier@commercialappeal.com or 901-529-2572 and on Twitter at @thomasrcharlier.