NATCHEZ &045;&045; City officials and a citizen committee hope a plan combining five planned downtown walking trails with historical and educational markers will catch the attention of, and secure project funds from, the state Department of Transportation.

The plan would include three riverside trails: a blufftop trail, a middle trail and a trail along the riverbank itself.

It would also include northern downtown trail bounded by High and Main streets and a southern downtown trail bounded by Main and Washington streets. The downtown trail would be marked by signs installed in the sidewalk: green for the northern trail and blue for the southern trail.

Kiosks detailing the history, geology and archeology of the area, including photos of the way downtown looking it bygone days, would be installed along the trails.

&uot;So it’s educational as well as recreational,&uot; Gardner said.

The project &045;&045; conceived by a Community Alliance committee, with plans drawn up by City Engineer David Gardner &045;&045; would cost an estimated $1.31 million to $1.58 million. Gardner said he plans to ask for Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, or TEA-21, funds for the project. Those federal funds are dispersed on the state level through the Mississippi Department of Transportation.

The Community Alliance committee is also searching for funds for the project, Gardner said.

He added that it’s still to early to say when work could begin on the project.