Dozens of representatives from outdoor recreation organizations, government agencies, businesses and member of the general public converged at Highlands Rec Center on Wednesday to get a look at plans for a proposed outdoor feature.
A proposed hiking trail from Clayton, Georgia to Cashiers was on display and project coordinators were on hand to answer questions about the early stages of making the “Blue Ridge Community Connector” trail a reality.
“The trail would begin at Stekoa Creek Park in Clayton, it would wind its way up toward Sky Valley, then past Scaly Mountain, through Highlands then past Whiteside Mountain and end at The Village Green in Cashiers,” Destination by Design Director of Outdoor Recreation Tim Johnson said. “Our goal right now is to show everyone the proposed trail route and get public feedback.”
Destination by Design is a consulting firm out of Boone, which has worked with multiple municipalities, county governments and private businesses in relation to building recreational assets. The firm was hired by the Highlands Plateau Greenway group to explore the idea of public hiking trail connecting several communities in Rabun, Macon and Jackson counties.
Johnson noted that the trail’s current route is “approximately 90-95 percent” on public lands and/or along public right of way. The trail includes sections of the Highlands and Cashiers greenways, a portion of the Bartram Trail, and paths along the banks of the Chattooga River.
“You could go out and walk this route right now, but you would run into some spots where you would have to walk along a paved road with traffic,” Johnson said. “There are plans in place to add sidewalks at one of those spots, so that may be remedied in the near future. The good news is, we aren’t having to go secure right-of-way with a lot of private property owners to make this happen.”
The proposed trail includes shelters for hikers who embark to do the entirety of the nearly 45-mile journey. Because it will not be possible to do in one day, hikers will need places to get out of the weather, eat and sleep.
As the planning and design process continues, Johnson noted that the next question will be in terms of funding for the project. The total cost to construct the trail is estimated at roughly $2.5 million.
“Obviously, someone has to build the actual trail once the design is agreed upon and that comes with a cost,” Johnson said. “Hopefully an organization will be willing to take this on and make it happen.”
The timeline for the proposed trail to be built and open to the public is 5-7 years, once funding is committed.
To provide additional feedback about the Blue Ridge Community Connector trail, email Johnson at timdbdplanning.com.