Jacksonville Rails-to-Trails Formally Opened
by Thomas Brock - June 28th, 2008.Filed under: Activism, Alva Williams, City of Jacksonville NC, Commuting, Fannie K. Coleman, Fitness, Jacksonville City Council, Jacksonville, NC, Jerome Willingham, Michael Lazzara, Military News, Onslow County, Photos, Randy Thomas, Reva Sullivan, Sammy Phillips.
Today at a Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and City of Jacksonville joint ceremony, the trail and bridge over Highway 24/Lejeune Blvd was opened for full use.
Dozens of cyclists, runners and walkers rode, ran or walked the path from either ends (Marines and sponsors came from Camp Lejeune and city residents from Bell Fork Elementary) to meet at the bridge over Highway 24/Lejeune Blvd for the event. The Jacksonville Mayor and City Council as well as most of the City’s Trails and Greenways Advisory Commission were present as was Camp Lejeune’s Commander, Marine Colonel Richard Flatau, Jr.
Most of the speeches (given by City of Jacksonville Recreation and Parks Director Mike Carter, Mayor Sammy Phillps and Colonel Flatau, Jr. centered around the years of hard work (nearly a decade) required to complete the path and the symbolism of the bridge between City and Camp Lejeune.
The Rails-to-Trails project is good. It’s good for Jacksonville, it’s good for the residents and it’s good for Camp Lejeune. Use the path. It’s there for you.
