Now that weather is beginning to cooperate, it may be time to check out the new recreation trail in West Point.

The trail, begun with a state Department of Natural Resources Recreation Trails Grant of $100,000, has been open since mid-February.

The 2,000-foot, hard-surface trail is open to the public and links to the other four miles of natural surface trails which are open for wildlife and birding enthusiasts as well as hikers, off-road bicyclists, cross-country running and other interests, said Mike Crook, a West Point resident and lead architect of the project.

“In 2004 the Trust for Public Land deeded 178 acres just north of our active-use City Park to the city to minimally develop as a passive-use park,” Crook said. “TPL has a goal of creating a more than 200-mile greenway system from the headwaters of the Chattahoochee to downtown Columbus.”

Trust guidelines for recipients of its land gifts say that the greenway projects be sustainably developed by applying the principles of preservation, restoration, water quality, recreation, education and community participation.

Throughout the park, the trails cover a wide range of terrain from river floodplains to 10 acres of beaver ponds to upland pine and hardwood forests. Many bird species are found, and a wide array of wildlife and plant life abounds.

“Soon trailway signage will be installed, and we are currently compiling a color-coded map to help visitors find their way,” Crook said.

The trail entrance and parking was built using the grant money, which specified new trail opportunities and connectivity be provided for residents where no such opportunity existed.

“While the existing four miles of natural-surface trails are beautiful and vibrant, there are areas which are not easily traversed by the elderly or physically challenged, so this is a wonderful opportunity to get more folk into the wood,” Crook said.

West Point plans participation in the 2009 Recreational Trails Grant program.

“Our plans are to partner with many different private and public groups and corporations to build a Riverside Trailhead at the U.S. 29 bridge,” Crook said. “This trailhead will connect to the existing trails via a new pedestrian bridge across a wide tributary north of the East Bank Shopping Center and through a new safety shelter under the CSX railway trestle. The trails will extend south from the trailhead along the river to connect to a new kayak/canoe launch at the site of the old river bridge at East 8th Street.”

The project has had the support of Mayor Drew Ferguson IV and City Council, West Point Public Works, the trust, the Troup County Parks and Recreation Department, the DNR and Georgia Forestry Commission, the Boy Scouts of the George H. Lanier Council, local businesses and a dedicated group of local residents, Crook said.

“This gift is a jewel like none other in our area. We want all of our area’s citizens to come and appreciate the history, beauty and integrity of this site,” he said.

On Friday, Springwood School in Lanett, Ala., will contribute the labor of eight to 10 students on their “Wildcat Workday” to help complete mulching the Heritage Trail. The next day, a group of volunteers will be bringing skid steers and tractors to the entrance road on U.S. 29 to complete some erosion-control projects as well as to plant the 5 acres of power lines in native grasses and wildflowers through joint grant called Project WINGS (Wildlife Incentives for Non-game and Game Species).