Work began Monday on the newest addition to Brookhaven’s system of parks. Bulldozers and dump trucks swarmed around tree-shaded Bicentennial Park as soil was excavated for a quarter-mile walking trail that will make a figure eight around the pavilion and colorful playground equipment.

With site prep and paving scheduled to be finished within a week, it won’t be long before moms can take a stroll and chat while the kids play after school.

Thanks to local officials’ vision and funds from last year’s $25,000 Blue Cross & Blue Shield Healthy Hometown grant, the new Bicentennial Park track will soon join the multi-use trail at City Park and the walking area at Exchange Club Park as public-use walking trails in the city.

Good recreational facilities are a big draw for families looking for a new hometown, so it’s good to see this latest addition to our local park system taking shape.

If you’re not familiar with the recreational facilities available, we suggest a visit to the Recreation Department’s website, brookhavenrecreation.com. A list of facilities and a map are available to get you headed in the right direction if you’re ready to start or step up an exercise program. Couple these facilities with those offered by King’s Daughters Medical Center and nearby Lake Lincoln, and you’ve got a wide range of recreational opportunities right here in Lincoln County.

If you’re not ready for something more strenuous like tennis, walking is a great way to kick things off. And, as the dog days of summer begin to ease into cooler mornings and evenings, there’s no better time than now to get out those walking shoes.