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    Natchez Trace

    Parkway AL,MS,TN

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    An 8-mile section of the Parkway will be closed to vehicular traffic on March 14, 2012, due to a major safety hazard that has developed near milepost 94.8 between Ridgeland, MS, and Clinton, MS. More »

Park And Partners Open Multiuse Trail

6 park partners join superintendent Sholly for the multi-use trail ribbon cutting
NPS Photo
Cutting the ribbon for the new trail section.

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Date: February 11, 2011
Contact: Terry Wildy

Natchez Trace Parkway officially opened a new 5.3-mile-long section of the Multiuse Trail in Ridgeland, Mississippi, on Saturday, January 21st.   

Superintendent Cameron Sholly recognized trail development partners from the City of Ridgeland, Denver Service Center, and the Federal Highway Administration with superintendent’s appreciation awards.  Representatives from Senator Thad Cochran’s office, Madison County, Jackson Metro Cyclists and Bike Walk Mississippi were present to show their support for the new trail, which is designed to preserve the scenic cultural landscape of the parkway while providing an enjoyable recreational opportunity for the park’s 6 million visitors. Over 500,000 people live in the adjacent Jackson, Mississippi Metropolitan Area. The trail is graded for wheelchair users and is heavily used by visitors and residents.

The project was funded through the Park Roads and Parkways program, administered by the Federal Highway Administration. An additional 5.5 miles of new Multiuse Trail are currently being planned and constructed south of the newly opened section and are due to be completed in the fall of 2012.

Did You Know?

Meriwether Lewis Monument, Natchez Trace Parkway, Tennessee

Meriwether Lewis, of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, was governor of the Upper Louisiana Territory when he died on the Natchez Trace in 1809, at Grinder's Stand in Tennessee.  A monument was erected in his honor in 1848 and can be seen along the Natchez Trace Parkway today.