New Walking Track Unveiled in Uvalda

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Community members have a new space for daily walks, as the Uvalda Community Walking Track was unveiled to the public on Sunday, January 19.

The walking track was built on land owned by the Uvalda Baptist Church as a way of creating a space in the community for people to fellowship and exercise. “The property is owned by the Church and our insurance covers the liability, but this is not our walking track,” Uvalda Baptist Church Pastor Adrian Bell clarified. “This is the community’s walking track, and a place for all people to enjoy.”

The Track was built in memory of Carolyn and Melanie Davis, as Carolyn’s husband and Melanie’s father Jimmy Davis was the driving force behind the project. Davis said he was coming out of church one day when he looked across the road and told Dale Clark that the area would be perfect for a walking track. The duo teamed up with Gail Meadows, who walks daily at the walking track in Alston, and decided to pitch the idea to the Church.

After some discussion, it was agreed that the grassy area adjacent to the Church along West Main Street would be the perfect spot for the track, and donations soon came pouring in. “One thing we all agreed to was that we didn’t want this to cost the church one dime out of regular collections. Thankfully, everything has been taken care of through donations,” Davis clarified.

Pastor Bell added, “The Community Walking Track is here because of donations in memory of Carolyn and Melanie Davis, and we appreciate those. Also, it exists because of donations that were given in memory of Randall Clark and Harris Meadows. The benches were donated in memory of Roy and Shirley Absher, Helen Calhoun, Randall Clark, Louise Creamer, Ben and Johnny Curry, Luther Curry, Louise Curry, Don and Carolyn Curry, Carolyn Davis, Melanie Davis, Toby and Evelyn Dykes, Marcus and Jane Eric, James Glisson, Mabel Johnson, Janice Lawrence, Elathel Lawrence, Harris Meadows, Eugene Merritt, Austin Morris, Marguerite Moses, E.H. and Minnie Moses, Ladson O’Connor, Christy Powell, Claude and Mildred Sammons, Ken Tharpe, and Zade Waller, and in honor of Gail Meadows, Dale Clark, Jimmy Davis, and the children and grandchildren of Roger and Betty Creamer.”

The track was designed with several curves to both provide an extended trail distance and to keep walkers from boredom, as 8 laps around the track are equivalent to 1 mile of walking.

Church Deacon Ben Clark commented on the importance of the track promoting unity among the community, as he said, “The nation is probably more divided than its ever been. Part of the word community is unity – we need unity, we need that sense of community, and I think this walking track can do that.”

The track is now open for all members of the public to enjoy.

COMMUNITY WALKING TRACK – The Uvalda Community Walking Track was unveiled to the public on Sunday, January 19. The Walking Track was crafted in memory of several figures of the community, especially Carolyn and Melanie Davis. L to R: Malinda Meadows, Wendy Meadows Conner, Gail Meadows, Ben Clark, Dale Clark, Ericka Clark, Grayson Betteridge, Pastor Adrian Bell, Jimmy Davis, Jaxsyn Dailey, Sydney Betteridge.by Makaylee Randolph