There may be more greenways and bikeways coming to Shelby County. Earlier this week, Shelby County government was awarded a $2.6 million grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to be used in planning a greenway regional network.
The money will be used to connect greenways and bike paths in distressed neighborhoods in an effort to reduce blight and link neighborhoods. Planning for new routes will begin in July and will be led by the Mid-South Regional Greenprint & Sustainability Consortium, a group of 25 greenway organizations, businesses, and local and state governments.
Besides the governments of Memphis and Shelby County, the consortium will also include Bartlett, Collierville, and West Memphis governments. The Hyde Family Foundation, the Community
Development Council of Greater Memphis, the Mid-South Peace & Justice Center, and the Memphis Regional Design Center will also be involved.
The Shelby County Office of Sustainability applied for the grant last month.
“We are pleased to receive the grant. Ours was the only Tennessee community to receive the federal money,” said Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell.
