Green spaces, walking trails and bike paths are increasingly sought after by potential residents looking for a new hometown.

Wesson and Copiah-Lincoln Community College seem to be well aware of that fact. On Thursday, city and college officials gathered with regional leaders and well wishers to break ground for construction of a new pedestrian corridor that will provide walking and biking links between established sites in the community and on campus.

The project is being financed by a $1 million federal grant through the Mississippi Department of Transportation’s Transportation Alternatives Program.

In presenting a check for the grant, Central District Transportation Commissioner Dick Hall aptly said, “We are gathered here today to begin a process of building something we will all be proud to leave behind.”

Hall cited community and college leaders’ aggressive pursuit of the funding and local support as crucial to securing the funding.

Co-Lin President Ronnie Nettles, Wesson Mayor Alton Shaw and their colleagues are to be commended for their successful town-and-gown partnership on behalf of the project.

When completed, the corridor will provide access to campus health, fitness and recreational areas for both students and Wesson residents.

As an added benefit, the new walking and biking corridor will encourage physical fitness, which is something all of us should be working on.

We agree with Hall, who commented, “… When completed, these facilities are going to encourage folks to use them that otherwise would not be walking or biking.”