ORANGE BEACH, Ala. — Thanks to the American Recovery Act, better known as the Stimulus Act, grant money recently approved from the federal government, Orange Beach plans to pave several of the local hiking trails.

The grants, which the city applied for, will be used to pave Rattlesnake Ridge, Campground Road, and to extend Rosemary Dunes out to Highway 182.

“Most of these areas are in generally poor condition. Although they have been used in the past for fundraisers such as the Running Scared 5k race and some bike events, these really need some good, smooth, safe paving,” said Orange Beach Coastal Resource Manager Phillip West.

At this point, the city has been promised $650,000 in federal funds, and will find out in October if they will receive 100 percent funding or the 80/20 percent funding group.

Recently the Department of the Interior designated the Hugh S. Branyon trail as a National Recreation Trail.

“We are very, very proud of this very prestigious recognition,” West said. “This will open the door for further grant opportunities that would not otherwise be able to seek.”

West said the state trails coordinator nominated the Branyon Trail to be the featured trail on the National Recreation Trail Web site.

“We are very proud of this. I’m not sure what kind of price you could put on something like that,” West said. “It is pretty significant.”