The Richard Martin Trail or the Richard Martin Rails-to-Trail is a multi-use

rail trail A rail trail is a shared-use path on railway right of way. Rail trails are typically constructed after a railway has been abandoned and the track has been removed, but may also share the right of way with active railways, light rail, or streetcar ...

open to hikers, walkers, runners, and bicycle and horseback riders in Limestone County, Alabama built on an abandoned rail corridor as part of the

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) is an American nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., that works with communities to preserve unused rail corridors by transforming them into rail trails within the United States. RTC's purpose is to c ...

. The 10.2-mile trail winds through wetlands, the Civil War site

Battle of Sulphur Creek Trestle The Battle of Sulphur Creek Trestle, also known as the Battle of Athens, was fought near Athens, Alabama (Limestone County, Alabama), from September 23 to 25, 1864 as part of the American Civil War. In September 1864, General Nathan Bedford ...

and downtown

Elkmont, Alabama Elkmont is a town in Limestone County, Alabama, Limestone County, Alabama, United States, and is included in the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the population of the town was 434, down from its record high of 4 ...

. It was named in honor of Richard Martin, local citizen and trail supporter, who led the effort to build the trail for 25 years.

History

The railroad was built in 1859 by the Tennessee and Alabama Central Railroad linking

Nashville, Tennessee Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the List of muni ...

and Decatur, Alabama. The railroad right-of-way was abandoned in April 1986. Limestone County Parks and Recreation Board (established in 1992) adopted the efforts of Richard Martin to create the trail and its trail heads. Under the Limestone County Parks and Recreation Board purview, the historic church was relocated to the northern head at

Veto A veto is a legal power to unilaterally stop an official action. In the most typical case, a president or monarch vetoes a bill to stop it from becoming law. In many countries, veto powers are established in the country's constitution. Veto ...

and parking and restrooms were built; Coffman Park parking and pavilion were built; and upgrades were made at the Elkmont centerpoint to include horse trailer parking, additional egress points, and trail maintenance such as grading, repair, and anti-motorized vehicle barriers. Limestone County Parks and Recreation saved the historic church from demolition in 2006.

Features

The Veto trailhead includes the restoration of a 19th-century community church and restroom facilities. The Piney Chapel trailhead offers a pavilion with restrooms, parking lot for vehicles/horse trailers, and hitching posts.

Locations

Locations along the trails are listed in north to south order.

References

{{reflist, refs= {{cite web , url=http://www.americantrails.org/nationalrecreationtrails/10NRTapps.html , title=2010 NRT designations , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101213040839/http://americantrails.org/nationalrecreationtrails/10NRTapps.html , archive-date= December 13, 2010 , date= , website=AmericanTrails.org , publisher=U.S. Department of Interior , access-date=June 15, 2011 {{cite web , url=https://limestonecounty-al.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation/rails-to-trails/ , title=Rails to Trails , website=Limestone County Parks and Recreation , access-date=March 14, 2019 {{cite web , url=http://www.americantrails.org/NRTDatabase/trailDetail.php?recordID=3617 , title=Richard Martin Trail , website=National Recreation Trails Database , publisher=American Trails , access-date=March 14, 2019 {{cite web , url=http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=40807 , title=Elkmont, Alabama / Tenn. & Ala. Central Railroad , website=The Historical Marker Database , access-date=March 13, 2012 {{cite web , url=https://www.americantrails.org/resources/richard-martin-national-recreation-trail-limestone-county-alabama , title=Richard Martin National Recreation Trail, Limestone County, Alabama. , website=American Trails.org , publisher=Featured National Recreation Trails in Alabama , access-date=March 14, 2019 {{cite web , url=https://alabamarecreationtrails.org/trail/richard-martin-trail-piney-chapel-rd-access/ , title=Richard Martin Trail: Piney Chapel Road Access , website=Alabama Recreation Trails , publisher= The Alabama Trails Commission, The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs and The University of Alabama Center for Economic Development , access-date=March 15, 2019 {{cite web , url=http://archive.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/news/061023/church.shtml , title=Group plans to restore historic Valley church , newspaper=Decatur Daily , location=Decatur, Alabama , date=October 23, 2006 , access-date=March 15, 2019

External links

Richard Martin Rails to Trails
Limestone County, Alabama
Richard Martin National Recreation Trail
American Trails National Recreation Trails in Alabama Rail trails in Alabama Bike paths in Alabama Protected areas of Limestone County, Alabama Horse trails Limestone County, Alabama Hiking trails in Alabama

History

Features

Locations

See also

References

External links