CLINTON -- Even if the city doesn't receive a federal grant this year to create a mile-long pedestrian/bike trail along the city's northwest side, it still plans to build the path someday.
City Manager Dennis Cluff said the trail is more than just a recreational asset. It would also provide a safer access from some area subdivisions for students walking to West Clinton Elementary School.Clinton is applying for a $194,000 grant from the Utah Department of Transportation this month that would pay for about 80 percent of the estimated $246,000 project. The city plans to pay $52,000 -- including some $24,000 in equipment and in-kind labor.
The trail, approximately 5,000 feet long, runs east-west along the north side of a Davis County storm drainage canal between 2000 West and 3000 West at about 2000 North.
"It would be a path for kids to get to school," Cluff said, explaining many students could avoid crossing busy streets by using the trail.
Students in the Bridges, Aspen Meadows, Sierra Estates, Sunshine, Plumberry and Snoberry subdivisions would use the trail to get to school. He said another new 540 residential dwelling units in the area have been approved for development.
"Sometime it will happen," Cluff said of the trail's construction -- even if the city fails to get the grant this year.
The trail would be about 10 feet wide with asphalt on top of road base.
Cluff said the city would even add some landscaping, grass, sprinklers and trees along the trail. However, he sees no need for the city to fence off the canal because there's rarely any water in it.
The trail would also be just wide enough to accommodate emergency vehicles, if they needed to access the area. Other vehicles would be blocked off from the path.
The path would also connect with six acres of land north of West Clinton Elementary School that the city has purchased for a future park.
In addition, Cluff said the trail will connect on the east side with the city's new Albertson's shopping center, now under construction.
A master plan of future foot trails for the area has the proposed Clinton trail also connecting with similar tentative paths from West Point and Clearfield, as well as eventually going west to the slough on the city's west side.