First phase of greenway project opens to fanfare
A standing room only crowd gathered outside the Cashiers Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday morning for the grand opening of phase one of the Cashiers Greenway Ramble.
The Thomas Taulbee Memorial Greenway Entrance was the site of the ribbon cutting as representatives from multiple community groups came together to see the progress on the walking trail.
“There are honestly too many people to thank,” Vision Cashiers’ Paul Robshaw said. “We have had so many people give their time, effort, money… There’s a whole list just of contractors who have done work at cost to get this first section of the ramble built.”
Robshaw noted that the ramble is a community project aimed at making Cashiers more walkable, while also highlighting the area’s unique plant life, art scene, and business community.
“There is going to be local art installed at several locations along the ramble, and we are working on creating some ‘pocket parks’ where people can rest and relax and just spend a few quiet moments,” Robshaw said. “We don’t necessarily have a lot of land to build a big park with a playground and things like that, but there are some places we may be able to carve out some smaller pocket parks.”
The first phase of the ramble also moves Cashiers in the direction of becoming a “smart village” according to Robshaw. The pathway is lighted, and wayfaring signs are marked with QR codes that users can scan with the phone to learn about the area. There is WIFI connectivity and cell phone service along the first mile of the ramble, which Robshaw noted helps promote safety and inclusiveness.
The entrance to the ramble adjacent to the Chamber of Commerce is named for Taulbee, the former executive director of the Chamber, who passed away suddenly last November.
“Anyone who knew Thomas knew how much he loved to be outdoors, and how much he enjoyed taking his dog and walking around Cashiers,” current Chamber Executive Director Susan Gregory said. “I think he would be very pleased to see what this project has become.”
The Cashiers Greenway Ramble is part of the “Walk Cashiers” initiative – a cooperative effort between Vision Cashiers, the Chamber of Commerce, and Jackson County. The plan is to construct a 5-mile network of walking trails that will allow pedestrians access to all that Cashiers has to offer.