The Georgia Department of Transportation will transfer approximately two miles of property and right of way to the Athens-Clarke County Unified Government for one-mile sections along the Firefly Trail and the Easley Mill section of the North Oconee Greenway. The property and right of way for both sections is valued at $2.4 million.
The Firefly Trail is a proposed 39-mile Rails-to-Trail project that will connect Athens-Clarke, Oglethorpe and Greene counties. When complete, it will pass through Woodville, Maxeys, Stephens, Crawford, Arnoldsville and Winterville, terminating in Union Point. Athens-Clarke County is currently developing the 8-mile section between downtown Athens and Winterville.
The Easley Mill Trail is an approximate one-mile section of the popular 15-mile North Oconee River Greenway multi-use trail system. Though a small trail section, the Easley Mill segment is critical to the functionality of the Greenway, providing connection to Dudley Park, UGA, downtown Athens and surrounding neighborhoods.
GDOT’s involvement in these trails includes coordinating and securing federal funding and working with federal and other state officials to review and address environmental impacts, historic resources, erosion control during construction, elimination of invasive plant species, and protection of wildlife.
Additional support comes from SPLOST, the Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services Department, and individual donors within the community.
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