Could a 62-mile, bike and pedestrian trail bring tourism dollars to the Alexandria area?

Tony Tradewell sees the recreational possibilities a 62-mile trail on the Red River levee between Boyce and Marksville has to offer bicyclists and pedestrians.

He also sees the potential economic impact it could have for communities.

The proposed trail would eventually be part of a nearly 400-mile path that would span the state.

"The big dream is a levee trail from Shreveport to the Gulf of Mexico utilizing the Red River and the Atchafalaya levees and would connect quite a few communities," said Tradewell. "When you look at the long list of communities that will be connected by this potentially non-motorized trail, it's a pretty big deal."

The landscape architect has been working with local groups such as the Kisatchie Bicycle Club and Fit Families for Cenla on what would be the first phase of the project. It would connect Forts Randolph & Buhlow State Historic Site in Pineville and Fort DeRussy in Marksville.

Tradewell recently gave a presentation to the Rapides Parish Police Jury and said the project could could bring in tourism dollars from outside cyclists and pedestrians. But it would also serve as a recreational asset or even a way to commute for locals.

This is different than the Rock Island Greenway (South) project, which would use inactive parts of the former Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad rail line. This, said Tradewell, would wind along the levees.

"The levee trail has the potential to have a much quicker startup than the Rock Island Greenway just simply because the levee tops are already there," he explained. "There's a lot less that needs to happen."

This trail won't be part of the greenway, but both trails would link and use some of the same river crossings, he said.

"There would be two really, really key trailhead components on these trails right in Central Louisiana, which would make it an amazing recreational hub," Tradewell said. "So the two can actually link up and become complementary."

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He said the potential to link Forts Randolph & Buhlow and Fort Derussy is a "common sense situation" because of access to the trailheads and parking on the north and south ends. Plus, travelers can stop and visit a historical site.

The levee trail would be comparable to the others local cyclists have ridden on and looked at in other states. Those, he said, all had multi-million-dollar impacts on tourism.

"This potential trail could compete with some national winners," he said. "It would compete with the Tanglefoot Trail in Mississippi. It would make us a longer trail than the St. Tammany Trace, which has been very, very successful in south Louisiana."

Members of the cycling community were at the meeting to show support.

"For cyclists, walkers and runners, the trail is a safe path to explore the Red River without worrying about vehicles," said Louis Guidry, an avid cyclist. "For the communities it is a means to add revenue. Cyclists will travel to areas that have safe trails to explore. I have been to Little Rock and Hot Springs in Arkansas to ride their trails."

"The proposed levee trail would be closed to motorized traffic so cyclists, runners and walkers would have a safe place to ride, run and walk," said Robert Bussey who has been cycling for more than 50 years. "The trail would border the Red River and present views of nature without the noise of traffic. A nice respite from the din of society that would also be emotionally beneficial to those who use the trail."

Cyclists or pedestrians will be able to enjoy the beauty of rural Louisiana while traveling on the levee that runs along the Red River, he said.

And communities would benefit economically by seeing an increase in tourist dollars. He said cyclists are known to stay at locations not only close to the trail but also miles from it.

"There are communities at or near the levee that fit this description," he said. "Many of the rural communities were 'lost' when the interstate systems were created."

Those communities could see an increase in tourism dollars, he added.

Tradewell said they met with the police jury and others to see about working with them and others on the first phase of the 400-mile trail.

Craig Smith, president of the Rapides Police Jury, is forming a committee made up of police jury members whose districts the trail would pass through and residents who support the project. They will conduct a study, then make recommendations.

"They will be meeting soon to put together a game plan in pursuit of funding and planning," said Tradewell.

He said others in Avoyelles Parish are supportive of the project, such as Jacques Goudeau, president of Marksville Main Street.

"He and I have been working on this together for about four years," Tradewell said. "So once we get the ball moving forward, a part of the committee meeting will be 'How do we bring in more representation from Avoyelles Parish?' That's the big picture."