Plans to add a new pedestrian path downtown have come to fruition at Statesboro’s Luetta Moore Park.
Work is nearing completion on a nearly 1,000-foot-long walking and biking trail that stretches from Martin Luther King Jr. Drive to Church Street, behind the city park.
An idea in planning for more than four years, the path will be officially completed next month.
“I am real proud of the effort to make the trail a reality. I want to thank my fellow council members, the Development Authority, and everyone else who came together,” Statesboro City Councilman Gary Lewis said. “It is going to be really good for the community. I have seen people using the trail already.”
The downtown recreation trail is an approximately $145,500 project undertaken by the City of Statesboro. Of that amount, $100,000 was provided in a grant awarded by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to provide additional outdoor opportunities in urban areas throughout the state.
“(The trail) is a great amenity for the Luetta Moore Park, and it also ties into several other sidewalk projects we’ve done in recent years. The trail provides a nice connection to several parts of the city,” City Engineer Robert Cheshire said.
As of Monday, asphalt and concrete were already in place, and a 40-foot aluminum pedestrian bridge, which spans a drainage ditch behind the park, was installed, according to Brad Deal, an assistant city engineer.
Work remaining includes landscaping, the installation of benches and the addition of lighting, picnic tables, water fountains, bicycle racks and grills, Deal said.
“When we’re done, I expect the trail to include many attractive amenities that will add to ambience, the atmosphere, of that area,” said Mandi Cody, the city’s director of community development.
The final touches will lead up to a June 30 ceremony to officially unveil and name the trail.
According to Lewis, a committee formed to decide on a namesake for the path will make its recommendation to City Council during a meeting held today.
“It will be named after the Rev. Julius Abraham. I am excited about it,” Lewis said. “He was a longtime teacher and principal here in Statesboro. He has helped a lot of children and he is both well-known and liked. He has been great for the community.”
As part of a long-term vision to increase walking and biking options throughout the city, the Luetta Moore Park trail was designed with the option to tack on additional phases, to eventually tie into nearby trails.
“The hope is to, in the future, have more walking paths throughout the city, and this path is one part of that,” Cody said.

Jeff Harrison may be reached at (912) 489-9454.