City approves grants for multi-use trail

Teresa Williams

THOMASVILLE — The City of Thomasville took another step forward Wednesday in its quest to create a multi-purpose trail.

The Thomasville City Council agreed on a resolution to approve a grant agreement with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Historic Preservation Division and the Georgia Department of Economic Development for funds to complete the master plan for the tentatively named “The Thomasville Community Landmarks Multi-Use Trail.”

“This was to let state agencies know we appreciate support of the project and the council approved the agreement necessary for the city to accept those funds,” City Planner Lee Chastain said Friday.

These grant funds, along with donations and matching funds from local organizations and individuals, total $36,000.

“In the initial Victoria Place Urban Redevelopment Plan, one of the ways we wanted to spur redevelopment and investment in that area was by providing some improved recreational access,” Chastain said.

“The original trail, now known as Phase One, was conceived at that time to run downtown over to Paradise Park. However, it was decided to create a five mile trail to connect all of our parks and historic districts, as well as encircle the downtown area and provide direct recreational access to neighborhoods.”

The city planner said such a trail helps promote tourism, allows people to visit unique historical resources, gives residents a place to walk and the city to be a good steward of available resources.

“We will be going through the plan phase by phase,” Chastain said. “Each of the five phases will end up with a redevelopment plan associated with it. By the end, it will be a community-wide economic development strategy.”

Components of the trail master plan include the proposed location, identification of how and where the trail will tie into various parks, how those parks can be improved, what types of construction material is needed, addressing how trails will be accessed, potential visitor parking, restrooms, emergency phones and lighting, Chastain said.

“We’ve already completed some of the initial studies, such as demographics around the various parks and who is using the parks, and we’ve also begun to identify some economic indicators around each phase,” he said. “Once the trail is completely constructed, it is our intention that it not only serve a recreational purpose but also provide economic opportunities.”

GIS analyst Duane Treadon constructed the trail’s conceptual, technical draft.

“We utilized GIS, looked at maps to determine what would be the route to connect the parks and not negatively impact neighborhoods, and were able to conceptualize a potential good route to investigate that offered the most benefits to the neighborhoods,” he said.

Mayor Camille Payne, who is on the city beautification committee, looks forward to getting started on the trail.

“The city has been working several years on a walking trail idea that would include bicycles and pretty much go around Thomasville,” she said. “We finally are getting to where we can see it will probably come to fruition. I think we’ll be able to do it.

“A main thing is to make sure citizens are on board and the ones I’ve talked to have been. This grant money enables us to proceed and I think the trail will be something people will enjoy.”

The trail plan is expected to be completed by the end of the year, Chastain said.

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