Town officials discuss Sandywood trail connection to Veterans Park with private funding interest

Town Council President Pete told the Parks & Recreation advisory committee that a newly approved subdivision called Sandywood Circle can be connected to Veterans Park by a roughly 0.6-mile trail that would be bikeable and link neighborhoods to schools and park facilities.

Pete said the developer has completed roads and utilities and the town signed its first building permit on the new road last week, which he called a trigger for moving the trail from a long-term goal to a near-term project. He said a private nonprofit has approached the town offering to invest “a substantial amount” toward the trail and that the group has already walked the route with town parks and engineering staff.

The proposed route includes two pedestrian bridges over low-lying creek sections. Pete gave dimensions and cost estimates: one bridge about 6 feet wide by 52 feet long and a second about 6 feet by 66 feet, each with roughly a 9,000-pound capacity; quoted prices were about $36,000 and $50,000 respectively…