Neuse Trail Gets Boost From Rep. Miller

The Neuse River Park’s greenway trail has a good friend in Washington.

Rep. Brad Miller, the Raleigh Democrat who represents House District 13 in Congress, has secured $400,000 in federal funding to help pay for the trail’s construction, which is set to begin next year. The money was part of an appropriations bill signed into law earlier this month.

“Raleigh has long been known as a national leader in the greenway movement,” Miller said. “By protecting one of our state’s most beautiful natural resources, we continue to build on the kind of quality of life that people have come to expect here.”

This marks the second consecutive year that Miller has secured funding for the project. Last year the park received $500,000 for planning and engineering design of first sections of the greenway trail. The latest installment will pay for construction of about 4,000 feet of trail south from the proposed Falls of the Neuse Bridge.

The City of Raleigh has led the creation of the 17-mile park, which in addition to offering recreational opportunities to area residents will also help protect the river’s water quality.

“The greenway trails are an essential resource for the physical health of our residents and the environmental health of our area,” said Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker. “Because of the support and leadership of our local delegation in Washington, this greenway segment will be benefiting our neighbors and our community much sooner than we could ever have made it happen alone.”