Gov. Phil Bredesen recently announced that a grant will be awarded to the city of Martin to build the Brian Brown Memorial Greenway.

"I'm proud to announce this grant to help build the Brian Brown Memorial Greenway in Martin," said Bredesen. "It was important to Mr. Brown that his community have this space for recreational use. An avid bicyclist, Mr. Brown fought hard for this greenway so that his community could have a safe place to run, walk or bike away from the danger of traffic. It is due to his fight for this greenway, and the unbelievable support of the Martin community that today the Department of Transportation will provide more than $310,000 in grant money to make Mr. Brown's dream a reality."

The governor also said the Brian Brown Memorial Greenway will help students get from the UTM campus to the downtown area as safely as possible.

“You’ll notice I’ve used the word ‘safe’ several times,” said Bredesen. “That’s because this trail was the idea of a man who did not make his bicycle trip safely.”

Brian Brown was killed while riding his bicycle, not far from where part of the trail will be built. He was killed in 2000 after being hit by a passing truck.

“This trail was Brian’s idea. Brian was a Campus Recreation supervisor for the university,” said Dr. Tim Johnston, president of the Brian Brown Memorial Greenway Foundation.

“He proposed the trail to the city of Martin and the university and they endorsed it, ironically, just months before he died.”

Johnston said because of Brown’s work the need for the greenway was recognized and accepted. After Brown died, his family, friends and even strangers stepped forward to move the project ahead.

“Thousands of local citizens and UTM students participated in events to raise grant-matching funds for the greenway,” said state Sen. Roy Herron, who was also involved. “They held cookouts, bake sales and even a circus. Together they raised 65-thousand dollars. Brian Brown’s wife, Laura, and two young children have been very active in the foundation’s efforts.”

State Rep. Mark Maddox was also a big supporter of the project. “The grant is awarded through the TDOT’s Federal Enhancement Grant program,” Maddox said. “This is the perfect example of how those special funds can be used.”

TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely said the greenway will include a 10-foot-wide trail for riding or walking. “It will span almost two miles beginning at the north side of the intersection of University Street and State Route 43.”

Nicely said the trail will run west to east along the abandoned railroad track, bringing that area back to life. The trail will then end in the downtown Martin business district on Frederick Street behind the Union Planters Bank.

He said the land involved is owned by the City of Martin, UTM, and former Martin alderman, Albert Wade, who is donating a 20-foot section of his property to allow the project to proceed.