MARTINSBURG – On Nov. 4, Gov. Jim Justice announced $13.9 million in grants going to 36 projects across the state through the Transportation Alternatives and Recreational Trails program, funded by federal and local contributions.

Five of those projects are in the Eastern Panhandle, including two in Berkeley County and three in Jefferson County.

In Berkeley County, one project that is being funded is the Martinsburg Creekside Trail, which is receiving $1,543,030 for the construction of a trail along Tuscarora Creek from Queen Street to Oatesdale Park and Baltimore Avenue. The trail is part of a multiphase project aiming to connect many of the city’s parks.

During a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the first phase of the project, Frog Hollow Trail, which stretches one mile from Burke Street to Wilson Street, city officials discussed the ambitious plans to for future trails. Creekside Trail is the second phase of that project.

“Keep an eye out,” Martinsburg Mayor Kevin Knowles said. “Martinsburg is moving forward and growing.”

The third phase of the project, which is addressed on the City of Martinsburg’s website, would connect Creekside Trail with War Memorial Park, passing by Lake Thomas.

Another $816,557 of the funds is going to the Berkeley County Commission to go toward the construction of approximately 0.7 miles of sidewalk near the site of the South Berkeley Inwood Park. Plans for the new 31-acre park were announced in 2021, and the park is set to be located across the street from Musselman High School.

“This park is incredibly important for the Inwood community,” said Berkeley County Commission Vice President Eddie Gochenour, after the commission added a other 8.2 acres onto the planned park.

For Jefferson County, two cities are receiving funding to build sidewalks. Ranson is receiving $1,500,000 to add approximately 4,604 feet onto the 5th Avenue sidewalk east of Mildred Avenue to Railroad Avenue. Shepherdstown is receiving $80,000 to design approximately 1,100 feet of sidewalk along the east side of North Princess Street.

Sam Michaels Park will also receive $250,000 to resurface and widen approximately 1 mile of Small Heart Trail and construct a connector trail.