A half-mile multi-use trail has begun to take shape atBrookhaven City Park.

Construction crews began cutting the trail Monday afternoon andstarted filling it with gravel Tuesday.

Jeff Dungan, the project’s engineer, said it should take crewsabout a five or six days to complete the trail’s base. However, itwill be a little longer before they begin to pave it.

“We want it to have time to rain a time or two and really setin,” he said.

The delay for the trail to settle will not be long, though.Dungan said he expects it to open for public use soon.

“It will still be under construction somewhat, but we shouldhave a paved trail that can be used by the end of May,” hesaid.

In the meantime, Dungan said he would prefer if people stay offthe trail and be safety conscious while using the park.

The engineer praised city crews for their help in the projectand in keeping its cost down.

“The city is removing the excess top soil, so it’s been a teameffort,” Dungan said. “The city has really been Johnny-on-the-spotwith this and that’s why it can be done so economically.”

Terry Reid, director of the Brookhaven Recreation Department,said the project cost approximately $100,000 and has been plannedfor at least two years.

“We’re anxious to get it done,” he said. “I think it’ll be anasset. After you wait on something this long, you want to see itdone.”

Once the trail is completed, Reid said, city crews willconstruct five concrete pads along it for exercise stations.Officials are still trying to determine what types of equipmentwill be located at each pad.

“We’ll have to get a physical therapist over here to determinewhich pieces of equipment we can get the most benefit from,” hesaid.