NATCHEZ — David Gardner calls the Natchez Trails Project one of the most rewarding projects he’s ever worked on for the city.

As city engineer and the chairman of the trails project, Gardner has had a hand in the project since its inception.

He now, with a smile, can say that the first phase of the project is fully funded.

After nearly two years of scraping up funds from all avenues, the $2.9 million required to construct the network of walking and biking trails that will snake through downtown and the bluffs has been raised.

The final leg of the funding has come through the Mississippi Legislature, $275,000 appropriated in House Bill 1589.

Gardner said when the idea was brought up by Natchez citizen Millicent Mayo, a committee was quickly formed to see what could be done about bringing it to fruition.

“It was unbelievable the amount of people who wanted to be involved,” Gardner said. “They were popping out of the woodwork.”

He said while acting as chairman of the committee, one of his major roles was to find government funding for the project.

Committee member and chairman of the finance subcommittee John Holyoak said Gardner went above and beyond in that capacity.

“David Gardner did the lion’s share on getting some of the money,” Holyoak said. “He has really done a great job of pulling this together.”

The funding came from several different entities — the National Park Service gave a $25,000 Lower Mississippi Delta Initiative Grant, Congress earmarked $218,000 for the project, $2 million came from the Mississippi Department of Transportation and now $120,000 and $155,000 has come from Mississippi Legislature.

Money, $380,000, was also raised locally to help pay for matches for some of the grant monies.

The first phase of the project shows walking trails running on the North end of town, from Broadway Street, over to High Street all the way to Rankin Street.

On the south side, the trails begin at Broadway, run all the way over to Washington Street and up to Martin Luther King Street.

The bluff trails move along in three tiers along Broadway, down to Silver Street down Roth Hill Road and Learned Mill Road and along the bank of the river. Also, a timber bridge will travel through the wooded area on the bluff.

All in all, the entire first phase consists of 5.6 miles of trails.

Peppered along the trails will be interpretive signs.

Gardner said if the project hadn’t received the additional $155,000 from the state, interpretive signs could have only been placed on the north side of the trails.

Now, the signs will be included in the south side and bluff region.

“The more I got into the project, the more I realized the benefits for the city, economic development, health, education, historical assessment,” he said.

Committee member Jim Coy mimicked Gardner’s statement about the multitude of benefits.

“It just has all the great combinations of things you want,” he said. “This project benefits everybody, no matter what their educational hobbies or interests are, no matter what their age is.”

“I can’t think of anybody the project eliminates.”

Gardner and Coy both said the trails will attract tourists.

Coy went so far as to say it would attract future residents.

“I think it’s just another thing that will be a draw to make people not only come and visit but come and live here,” Coy said.

Committee member Connie Taunton reflected on the beauty of the project.

“This is probably going to be one of the most scenic walking trails in the Southeast,” she said.

Gardner said the next step, which is taking place right now, is to have the contracted architects and engineers, Weatherford McDade draw up plans which will make it back to the city around September for review.

Gardner said by spring 2009, the project will break ground.

“Our goal is to be under construction by next spring,” he said.

After eight to 10 months of construction, the project will be ready for use, Gardner said.