Land Trust pushing for mountainside greenway on Monte Sano

HUNTSVILLE — Land Trust of North Alabama is gathering community support to create a mountainside greenway on Monte Sano that will provide a safe route for pedestrian and bike trave while also expanding outdoor access for those who have difficulty using natural surface trails.

The paved, multi-use greenway will follow a segment of the historic Toll Gate Road on Monte Sano extending from the Land Trust of North Alabama’s Bankhead Trailhead parking lot through Monte Sano Nature Preserve to the old Bankhead Parkway (commonly referred to as the closed road) within Monte Sano State Park. This route was specifically selected because of its wide existing corridor and its current use for utility access, which will minimize the disruption to the surrounding area.

The greenway will provide pedestrians and bikers a safe, scenic route to travel on the western slope of the mountain. Bikers often encounter unsafe conditions as they travel uphill on Bankhead Parkway alongside vehicle traffic. Tollgate Greenway will give bikers a safe, off-road space to climb the mountain. For pedestrians, this path would expand access to the mountainside and offer a paved option for those who are uncomfortable utilizing the natural surface trails on Monte Sano, such as people with limited mobility or families with strollers.

Monte Sano is an incredible, popular outdoor recreation space for visitors and residents in Huntsville,” said Noel Estopinal, Tollgate Greenway Committee chair. “The addition of a greenway will make this space more useable for a broader range of people while also improving travel options on the mountain. To make it happen, we need donors to pledge their support.”

The City of Huntsville has pledged to match up to $500,000 for the project and donors have currently contributed approximately $150,000 but another $350,000 is needed by August to make the project a reality.

For information about the project, visit landtrustnal.org/tollgate-greenway.