Capitalizing on its roots and the adjacent river, Clarkesville is renaming its popular Greenway Trail. The half-mile loop sits on 19 acres of city-owned property east of town. It will now be known as the Soque Greenway Trail.
The Clarkesville City Council approved the name change at a June 18 meeting. The new name is a nod to the organization that began building the trail in 2004 — the Soque River Watershed Association (SRWA).
The trail took about five years to complete, and until recently, another nonprofit was managing it. However, the SRWA is now back in charge of trail upkeep and maintenance. The association’s president, City Councilmember Brad Coppedge, says incorporating ‘Soque’ into the name will make it easier for them to secure grants and other funding.
“When you tie the Greenway Trail into, with the river association, it really adds a tremendous amount of value and clout,” he says.
The city council unanimously approved the name change, with Coppedge recusing himself due to his SRWA affiliation.
Lowe’s trail improvement
A new name isn’t the only change coming to the Soque Greenway Trail. Coppedge says Lowe’s, which six months ago paid to refurbish the trail’s community garden, has now agreed to complete a “full facelift” of the trail.
Lowes will install new trash cans, dog waste bins, and benches along the trail. Coppedge says the retailer has also agreed to edge the trail and repair the bridges along it.
Other planned improvements include a new information center and the installation of an archway to welcome visitors walking onto the trail.
After Lowes completes the refurbishment, Coppedge says they have suggested submitting a proposal to move forward with Phase 2 of the trail.
The Soque Greenway Trail is a popular community gathering spot for gardening, walking, and running. It offers views of meadows, wetlands, and the river it’s now named for.
The trail is next to Old Clarkesville Mill off Historic Highway 441, east of Clarkesville.
