LEWISBURG (WVDN) – Montwell Commons has announced that a walking path running from Chestnut St. to Montwell Commons is now open to the public.
The path provides walkers with a safe route to go from the West Virginia School of Medicine campus, Chestnut Street, and Lee Street neighborhoods to Montwell Commons and downtown Lewisburg without walking along Rt. 219.
The path also provides people with over a quarter mile of walking paths for exercise, access to picnic tables, a great location for walking dogs, and a place to play disc golf or otherwise enjoy the area.
Construction of the path was made possible by a grant from The Be ActiveWV grant program that is administered by The Center for Active WV at West Virginia University, in collaboration with the West Virginia Bureau of Public Health to combat obesity and chronic disease in West Virginia. The initiative aims to improve the health of West Virginians by increasing opportunities for physical activity in communities throughout West Virginia.
Completion of the path was also considered this week by the Communities in Bloom International judges as an example of how community interconnections contribute to the physical and environmental well-being of the community.
Although the first person to walk on the path was there about an hour after the contractor completed the path, the official opening took place on Thursday, July 14, at 10:30 a.m. with Lewisburg Mayor Beverly White as the guest of honor.
Montwell Commons directors Paul Lindquist and Jerry Janiga, and five individuals from the neighborhood also attended. Cliff Baker, the board president, presented an overview of the board’s goal of connecting neighborhoods with downtown Lewisburg as a way to encourage physical activity and reduce the need to drive a few blocks to town.
White remarked that what she really loves about Lewisburg is that everyone comes together on projects like this and gets things done.
The public is invited to walk down the path to the meadow area, enjoy the landscaping that features over 60 species of native plants, and enjoy the offerings of Hill and Holler and Amy’s Market restaurants.
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| Lewisburg Mayor Beverly White shakes hands with Montwell Commons board president Cliff Baker as community members look on. |
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| Community members at the opening of the walking path connecting Montwell Commons to Chestnut Street in Lewisburg |
