Lexington is set to welcome new development along a new walking trail.

Laurin Barnes, communication manager for the town, confirmed that a 76-home development is on the way near the Lexington Mill Pond. The development will reside off Parker Street and border the back end of the Reserve at Mill Landing apartment complex, sitting back from Second Wave Coffee & Books and S Lake Drive/S.C. Highway 6. 

The pond and dam, the restoration of which was completed earlier this summer, will be the site for a roughly mile-long walking trail, with Barnes telling the Chronicle that the trail will be integrated into the new development, going through the development’s green space.

Landstech, the developer for the homes, hasn’t yet responded to the Chronicle’s request for comment.

Community members on Facebook expressed concern about the amount of trees being cleared out, questioning the purpose for their removal. The developer started clearing the land in May.

The dam pond walking trail is being constructed by the town. According to Wesley Crosby, assistant to Lexington’s town administrator, the walking path should take about nine months to complete.

Crosby told the Chronicle that the trail will cost roughly $3 million and will include lighting and cameras. Funds for the project are coming from the Old Mill Pond Trail Fund, which comes out of Tax Increment Financing urban regeneration funds along with the town’s streets and infrastructure fund.

The trail is set to increase pedestrian connectivity near downtown, as it will link the Old Mill and its parking lots, the Reserve at Mill Landing apartment complex, South Lake Drive (near New Bethel AME Church) and the new development.

“Residents will have the opportunity to exercise, walk to restaurants and shop,” Crosby told the Chronicle earlier this summer. “It’ll give the citizens of the town and the area another tourism spot where they can park, where they can go outside and have some outdoor activities, walking, jogging, running.”