Albany, KY: Conceptual Trail Linkage Plan

The Albany/Clinton County community has focused much attention on enhancing the built environment for healthy and active families over the last few years. They have benefited from enhancements and resources provided through a cooperative agreement that the University of Kentucky received with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (CDC). The agreement focuses on improving health outcomes in counties with obesity rates higher than 40 percent of the population. The initiative has provided health enhancements such as a fit trail, disc golf, new water cooling stations for their schools, etc. Additionally, Mark Fenton, a national expert in active communities, has visited the community to lead walk audits and assist in the development of a bike/pedestrian plan. It is through these public conversations that citizens have identified the need for extended walking and biking trails. The City Council, Fiscal Court, Health Department, Cooperative Extension Service, Clinton County Community Foundation, and Clinton County Health Coalition members along with other community partners worked collaboratively to provide input and feedback throughout the project. The Community Design Assistance Center at Virginia Tech worked with this Stakeholders Committee and the community to develop a conceptual trail linkage plan that links as many key sites near Mountain View Park through Albany’s downtown to Albany Manor. A conceptual design for a farmer’s market structure for the downtown site was also developed.