The Georgia Department of Natural Resources on Friday announced two area trails are set to be repaired and expanded under a state grant program. Projects in Braselton and Lumpkin County are among eleven chosen statewide to receive a combined total of $1.5 million in Recreational Trails Program grants.
When leveraged with private and public partnerships, DNR officials say these grants will amount to an approximate $4.2 million investment in trail projects across Georgia. The applicants are now in the process of completing their final environmental reviews and work is set to begin soon.
“These communities are investing in access to outdoor recreation, and we are happy to support them,” says Mark Williams, Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources.
The town of Braselton has been awarded an RTP grant for Phase 2 of its Mulberry Riverwalk Rehabilitation project. The Mulberry Riverwalk Trail, constructed in 2004, is located on the western banks of the Mulberry River. The river has endured several major storms over time and several sections of the trail have been severely damaged by riverbank erosion. Once the riverbanks are stabilized, the city will use RTP funding to restore damaged portions of the trail.
Lumpkin County is also set to receive funding. Its RTP grant will be used to construct two additional miles of pedestrian trails around Yahoola Creek. This work will include one new pedestrian boardwalk, two new trailhead kiosks, and 13 wayfinding signs on the Yahoola Creek Reservoir property.
Other grant projects
The Recreational Trails Program seeks to support communities in developing recreational trails and trail-related facilities for both nonmotorized and motorized outdoor recreation. RTP funds come from the Federal Highway Trust Fund and represent an estimate of the motor fuel excise tax collected from off-highway recreational use.
Georgia DNR conducts biannual grant application cycles for RTP funds. The most recent recipients were selected from 33 project proposals requesting $5.2 million.
Other 2021-2022 RTP grant recipients include:
Augusta Canal Authority – Canal Single-track Mountain Bike Trail Rehabilitation
The existing Canal Single-track Trail, developed in the 1990s, is a loop between the historic Augusta Canal and the Savannah River and is approximately 2.8 miles in length. Recent dredging operations on Raes Creek and Lake Olmstead irreparably damaged about one mile of the trail. This project will rehabilitate that portion of this unique urban mountain bike trail serving the Central Savannah River Area.
Bartow County – Mountain Bike Trail at Wilderness Camp Greenspace
Bartow County will construct approximately four miles of intermediate-level mountain biking trails at its Wilderness Camp Greenspace. The intermediate trails will provide a more challenging option for advanced riders and allow beginners to gradually develop their skills. This will improve recreational opportunities for existing mountain bikers while encouraging others to explore mountain biking.
City of Cedartown – Silver Comet Accessibility Improvements and Rehabilitation Project
The Silver Comet Trail (SCT) is a 61.5-mile multipurpose trail that begins just north of Atlanta and travels west until reaching the Alabama state line. The City of Cedartown’s Silver Comet Accessibility Improvements and Maintenance Project consists of two bridge replacements, rehabilitation of existing trail infrastructure, and installing new trail signage.
City of Leesburg – Central Park Recreational Trail
The City of Leesburg will rehabilitate the existing walking trail in the city’s 48-acre Central Park and add more than half a mile of new trail to that system. The trail will be built to serve both pedestrians and bicycle riders. The trail will be adjacent to public schools and one block away from Leesburg’s downtown/central business district.
City of Thomasville – Thomasville Community Trail – Phase 4
The City of Thomasville will be expanding the Thomasville Community Trail from Hansell St. along E. Washington Street and through MacIntyre Park, to Clay Street. This section will help to connect existing trail segments along Hansell Street and E. Jackson Street. It also connects MacIntyre Park Middle School and Thomasville High School to MacIntyre Park as well as provides access to the inner loop of the Thomasville Community Trail.
Columbus Consolidated Government – Dinglewood Park Trail
The Columbus Consolidated Government has adopted a trail masterplan to provide 65 miles of multi-use trail including new construction and connections to existing trails. The Dinglewood Park Trail is the second phase of the Midtown Connector which will create a north-south artery between the two longest trails in the existing trail network.
Gilmer County – Carters Lake Mountain Bike & Hiking Trail, Ridgeway Recreation Area
This project, located at Ridgeway Recreation Area, will construct three miles of new natural surface trails, consisting of one- and two-mile loops that offer intermediate and expert-level mountain bike opportunities and a chance for pedestrians to take to the trails. The new trails will connect to existing old trails and logging roads. Construction of these two loops will complete the trail plan for Ridgeway Recreation Area.
Harris County – Ellerslie Park Trails
Harris County purchased 124 acres of land for park purposes and has been developing Ellerslie Park since 2018. The county will develop approximately 4,000 additional feet of dirt trails and a gravel trailhead to hold at least 10-15 vehicles.
Union City – Highway 29 Walking Trail
This trail for walking, trail running, and wheelchair access will provide pedestrian access to an almost 17-acre parcel of wooded public land within the city limits of Union City. The trailhead will be located along State Route 14 and the trail will provide connections to the Hwy 29 Ball Fields, The Gathering Place, and the Etris-Darnell Community Center. The new trail will end at Ronald Bridges Park and connects to its existing nature trail.
For more information about RTP and these grants, visit www.gadnr.org/rtp.
