HUNTSVILLE — The city of Huntsville and the Land Trust of North Alabama are collaborating on improved infrastructure on Monte Sano to provide an improved path for pedestrians and cyclists to enjoy the mountain’s natural beauty.
The City will provide $500,000 in matching funds after the Land Trust raised $500,000 to pave Toll Gate Trail from Bankhead Trailhead to Fearn Street. Plans call for a 10-foot-wide asphalt pathway along the 1.3-mile trail. The project will cost an estimated $1 million.
“We are partnering with the Land Trust on this trail to encourage cyclists to use it instead of Bankhead Parkway,” City Engineer Kathy Martin said. “We hope this project can provide cyclists with a safer alternate route as well as improve overall traffic safety on Bankhead Parkway within this area.”
The trail will provide a connection from the Land Trust parking lot on Bankhead Parkway to the paved trail into Monte Sano State Park.
“Tollgate Greenway is an amazing example of what can be achieved when a community unites behind a shared vision,” said Land Trust Executive Director Marie Bostick. “More than 250 donors came together to support the Land Trust’s fundraising campaign, successfully matching the City of Huntsville’s $500,000 commitment to make this project a reality.”
She added the initiative will create an inviting, accessible path for those who struggle with natural surface trails, allowing more people to experience the forested mountainside. It will also provide a safer, alternative route for cyclists riding up Bankhead Parkway, further enhancing connectivity and outdoor recreation opportunities for the community.
