The Mississippi Press Live Oak Bicycle Trail now a loop Friday, March 20, 2009
By MICHAEL DUMAS
The city of Ocean Springs has expanded its Live Oak Bicycle Trail to include a portion of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, making the 9-mile route a full circuit for cycling enthusiasts and recreational bikers alike. The new addition runs east on Brumbaugh Road into the National Seashore, connecting it to Hanley Road before going north and rejoining the previous Live Oak Trail route. City officials said the project cost approximately $5,000, which included paving an existing footpath, and was proposed and executed by the Ocean Springs Blueways and Greenways Planning Committee, in partnership with the National Park Service. "So many fitness cyclists already go to the Seashore since it's bicycle-friendly and they can pick up speed when they get into the Seashore," said Alderwoman at Large Julia Weaver. "This (new connector) makes it safe and friendly for cyclists of all types both the performance cyclists and the families with people of all ages and abilities." Weaver said the city wanted to provide an opportunity for people to get from downtown Ocean Springs or the Biloxi Bay Bridge into the National Seashore via Front Beach and East Beach Drives. It was also important that the Live Oak Trail offer cyclists a circuit, she said. "We determined that cyclists would prefer a loop," Weaver said. "There's so many wonderful things to experience and see, it's better to give them the opportunity to see them going out and coming back." The new connection was paved with pervious concrete, according to Ocean Springs Director of Planning Eric Meyer. Meyer said though the material doesn't hold up well to the weight of cars and trucks, it performs very well for trails; especially the paths that skirt the city's trees and areas of high vegetation. "There are a couple of places in town where we already have pervious concrete, usually near a large live oak to make sure the roots can still get nutrients and water," Meyer said. "With this material, the water just filters right on through."...
