By Bonnie Culverhouse

As the Minden Recreation Center begins its enhancement phase, Minden City Council members feel it is important to look a second time at building a Fincher Road extension.

It’s been almost a year since the City tried for a grant to build a connection between Fincher Road and Industrial Drive (I-20 service road).

That grant fell through, but they are ready to try again.

Last week, Cox announced that Public Works Director Tyler Wallace submitted a grant request to the University of Maryland through Gov. Jeff Landry’s office.

“The idea is to take Fincher Road from Homer Road, all the way across Highway 80 and on through to Industrial Drive,” Cox said. “That would be a home run for the city because it would quickly connect the city to Industrial Drive and quickly connect Industrial Drive to Homer Road, tying the city together.”

Cox said it would require crossing “a little private property” before joining City-owned land.

Landry’s office wrote a $2 million request for the extension’s planning stage with a zero match for the City.

“They (governor’s office) were super optimistic about it,” the mayor said. “We should hear back from it pretty soon.”

Cox said he would like to see the extension have pedestrian walking and biking paths to the Rec Center and Industrial Drive.

District E Councilman Andy Pendergrass said the council has talked in the past about renaming Industrial Drive, since there is no industry on it.

“We’ve talked about something that makes more sense than Industrial Drive since we are seeing more retail,” Pendergrass said.

The City has also set aside money to repair with concrete Industrial Drive from Highway 531 to the second driveway at Love’s Travel Center.

In the meantime, Zack Harrison, Recreation Center Enhancement Coordinator, was hired by the City to oversee the recreation center project.

“He’s been managing everything and there’s a lot to it,” Cox said. “We are about 50 days from rolling on it.”