Troy University’s arboretum has received a $162,266 grant from the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission (SCRC) to enhance educational opportunities and recreational access.
Part of the inaugural State Economic and Infrastructure Development (SEID) grant program, the $19 million investment will fund projects that align with priorities identified in SCRC’s authorizing statute, Five-Year Strategic Plan and State Economic Development Plans. Five Alabama projects were selected to receive funding totaling $1.18 million.
Dr. Alvin Diamond, biology professor and Director of the arboretum, said most of the funds will be used for restoring the Hickory Loop Nature Trail.
“The only options we have to get to that area are to climb down the bank of the creek, step across the creek and then climb up the bank on the other side—which is not convenient—or to walk down Pell Avenue to the corner and go in there,” he said, “but that’s not a good option either because of speeding and traffic. And now that we’ve got the all-terrain wheelchair, we want to install bridges and boardwalks to everyone can get across to these new trails.”
The arboretum’s entrance will also receive upgrades with the installation of a wildlife viewing area, informational signs and updates to the pitcher plant bog and rain garden. Benches and waste bins will also be installed along the trails.
This is the largest grant the arboretum has received since restoration efforts began in early 2022.
“We’re grateful to the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission for the support we’ve received in our goal of not just restoring the arboretum to its former glory, but in making it better and more accessible than it was before,” Diamond said. “With this grant, we’re one step closer to making that goal a reality.”
The arboretum boasts 75 acres of land, over 10 miles of fully-accessible walking trails, a Champion Tree, a Moon Tree, an outdoor classroom and hundreds of native plants and wildlife species. As of March, it is also a designated stop on the Alabama Birding Trails.
The community is invited to visit the trails and volunteer. For more information on how to get involved, contact Diamond at adiamond@troy.edu or 334-670-3938. To stay up-to-date on the latest projects, visit the arboretum’s Facebook page.
About the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission (SCRC)
The SCRC is a federal-state partnership authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill to promote and encourage economic development in areas of Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and all of Florida. SCRC invests in projects that support basic infrastructure, business development, natural resources, and workforce/labor development. SCRC’s mission is to help create jobs, build communities, and improve the lives of those who reside in the 428 counties of the seven-state region.
The development organization for the SCRC program in Alabama functions within the Governor’s Office. Administration responsibilities for the development programs of the SCRC are assigned by the Governor to ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell. As such, the Director serves as an Alternate State Member of the Commission.
