RESERVE — Julia Remondet remembers conversations with her mom from years ago when they talked about train rides from Reserve to Garyville or Reserve to Kenner to see family members.

“I said, ‘how exciting, why did we do away with that?’” Remondet said. “(Those memories) make me reminisce about the things she used to talk about, the things that make you feel more at home with a community for everybody.”

Remondet, St. John the Baptist Parish councilwoman for Mt. Airy, Garyville and Reserve, was in a nostalgic but forward-thinking mood recently when talking about the Mississippi River Trail/Bike Path under construction on the levee in Reserve.

“We’re trying all over the parish to realize not everyone goes place to place with a vehicle,” Remondet said. “A lot of people are becoming very health conscious and want to ride bikes and walk. It’s good to have a nice, designated spot for people to walk and ride a bike.”

St. John Communications Director Baileigh Rebowe Helm said the project consists of a 10-foot wide asphalt path along the side or toe of the levee.

“The path will not be on the top of the levee so as to not conflict with the many bonfires in Reserve,” Helm said.

When completed, the path will run from East 29th Street to West 10th Street (Louisiana 637).

Bikes and pedestrians will be allowed to use it, and parish officials hope to open it for residents Dec. 1.

Barber Brothers Contracting is constructing the path following a Meyer Engineers design plan at a cost of  $1,417,812. Helm said the state is paying 80 percent of the costs under the Louisiana Transportation Alternatives Program, with St. John paying 20 percent  .

Remondet said one of the project’s strongest elements is the state’s share in payment.

“I don’t live far from River Road, so it will be nice to drive up to the levee and get on the path and start rolling,” she said. “Over the past year or so, people have been very respectful of the path. It stays clean and people are courteous on the pathway if you are walking and they are coming with a bike. It’s just great to see everybody doing something more than riding in cars.”