AIKEN --- The dirt trail behind Aiken Middle School has evolved in the past 13 years, created by the footfalls of thousands of pupils making their way to and from school.
The narrow path cuts through a wooded area next to the middle school and seems to be a preferred route of many walking from the nearby Crosland Park subdivision.
With the help of a $200,000 federal grant received this week, though, pupils could be getting a paved route to school.
The city of Aiken and the Aiken County School District received the grant from the Safe Routes to School program to build walking and biking paths for the middle school. It has not been determined where the paths will go.
Sandra Korbelik, of the city's planning department, said the purpose of the grant and the program is to make infrastructure improvements that will encourage pupils to walk and bike to school.
"The end result would be kids who know how to walk or bike to school safely and have safe routes to do it," she said.
The middle school, along with North Aiken Elementary School, is next to Crosland Park and Wire Road. Children who live in the subdivision do not have safe, easy or formal walking or biking paths to school.
"The problem is the children cut through the wooded section," said Peggy Trivelas, the Area 1 superintendent. "Additionally, the entire route isn't easily viewable from either the school side or the street side."
The district doesn't normally bus pupils to school unless they live more than 1.5 miles away. However, Ms. Korbelik said, it does bus 110 pupils who live in Crosland Park because they don't have a safe route.
Officials hope providing sidewalks and biking paths will encourage more physical activity.
"It fits into our Get Fit Aiken program," Ms. Korbelik said, referring to the city's wellness incentive to promote healthier lifestyles among its residents. "It also fits into the attempts to decrease the consumption of gasoline and use on the buses."
Reach Michelle Guffey at (803) 648-1395, ext. 110, or michelle.guffey@augustachronicle.com.
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