The Firefly Trail - Home

INVEST IN FIREFLY TRAIL ON GIVING TUESDAY!

11/28/2023

Firefly Trail is a 39 mile off road paved path being created on or near the site of the former Georgia Railroad which ran between Athens and Union Point.

12 miles total have been completed and include sections in Athens, Winterville, Maxeys, Woodville and Union Point.

This multipurpose public path is flat to gently sloping, making it easily accessible for everyone. It's ideal for many types of activities including walking, bicycling, wheelchair use, inline skating, and other non-combustion engine uses.

Invest now! Be a proud partner for current and future generations!

Invest Online using any major credit card, Google Pay, PayPal or Venmo.

Invest with a check made payable to “Firefly Trail, Inc.”, mailed to: Treasurer, Firefly Trail, Inc., 345 Lyndon Ave., Athens GA, 30601.

To learn more about Firefly Trail click here to see what a great year 2023 has been for the trail - and what's coming up!

FIREFLY TRAIL INC LAUNCHES 2023 YEAR-END FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN

11/27/2023

Maxeys, Ga. – Nov. 27, 2023 – After committing more than $350,000 in recent years to help local communities build portions of the Firefly Trail between Union Point and Athens, Firefly Trail Inc. (FTI) is holding a fundraising campaign to replenish the funds it uses to help communities build and maintain the trail.

“Twelve miles of the trail are now open and serving their communities,” said FTI President Mark Ralston. “That’s possible because of amazing public support for the Firefly Trail. Continued support helps our non-profit help small and rural communities with matching funds required by trail-building grants.”

When finished, the Firefly Trail will be a wide, off-road, 39-mile path that is flat or has only gentle grades, making it a safe place for people of all ages and abilities to walk, run, ride or roll. It will reach from Union Point in the south to Athens in the north, generally on or near the historic corridor of the now-defunct Georgia Railroad Athens Branch.

Most recently, funds provided by FTI enabled the City of Woodville to contribute its share of matching funds for a Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program grant that built more than 6.5 miles of trail in Greene County. Most grants require a “local match” that is around 20-25% of the total. With 2.6 miles of trail needed to get from one side of the city to the other, Woodville could not meet its share of the match.

Funds provided by FTI and later supplemented by the PATH Foundation and the Riverview Foundation covered the funding gap. Greene County, the GOSP grant recipient, was able to build the entire trail segment, including the Woodville section. Today, trail users can walk, run or ride from Carlton Street in Union Point more than 6.5 miles north to the county line with no gap in Woodville.

FTI currently is working with the cities of Maxeys and Crawford to secure grants for portions of the trail in those cities. If approved, the grant for Maxeys will extend the existing trail about 0.9 miles to the city’s southern city limits. The grant for Crawford, matched by FTI and city TSPLOST funds, will build about 0.6 miles of trail from downtown to Bryan Park and then on to the city’s northern city limits.

The goal for the campaign is $55,000, and donations of any amount are warmly welcomed. Donations can be made online through the YEAR-END FUNDRAISER tab at fireflytrail.com, using any major credit card, Google Pay or PayPal. If you prefer to donate by check, please make it payable to “Firefly Trail, Inc.” and mail it to Treasurer, Firefly Trail, Inc., 345 Lyndon Ave., Athens GA 30601. FTI is a 501(c)(3) non-profit with Federal Employer Identification Number 45-1444715.

“We are so thankful for the deep and ongoing investment in the trail from across our region,” said Mary Cook, FTI president-elect. “Everyone deserves a safe, fun and convenient trail they can walk, run or ride with family and friends right here in Northeast Georgia. We’ve still got 27 miles to go, but together, we are making the dream come true. Let’s keep the momentum going!”
For more information, please visit fireflytrail.com or email FireflyTrail@gmail.com.

FIREFLY TRAIL RIBBON CUTTING IN UNION POINT

11/9/2023

About 75 excited stakeholders and citizens attended the Ribbon Cutting for the Firefly Trail Project held this past Friday, 11/3/2023. The ceremony was held in Union Point at the new pedestrian/cyclists bridge crossing that passes over North Rhodes Street. The ceremony was well attended and included many local elected officials, avid cyclists that helped spearhead the Trail Project, and many other citizens that have already been using the Trail for exercise and peaceful enjoyment.

Branded as the “Southern Segment” of the Firefly Trail, this section substantially completes the Trail from Union Point just south of N. Rhodes Street, through the city limits of Woodville, and ending at the County line at State Route 77 and Oglethorpe County. The 6.5 mile Southern Segment is the longest continuous section of the Firefly Trail that is completed to date.
Ultimately, the Firefly Trail will span about 39 miles from Union Point to Athens on or fairly close to the historic corridor of the historic rail line known as the Georgia Railroad Athens Branch. In addition to the Southern Segment in Greene County that starts in Union Point and passes through Woodville, the Firefly Trail will eventually pass through the towns of Maxeys, Stephens, Crawford, Arnoldsville and Winterville on its way to Athens.

Greene County was awarded $2.1million in grant funds from the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program to help fund the $3.5million construction project. Firefly Trail, Inc. raised another $220,000.00 in donations to support the project, the PATH Foundation donated $320,000.00, and the Riverview Foundation donated another $50,000.00 to help complete the section running through the City of Woodville.

Union Point Mayor Lanier Rhodes welcomed everyone to the ribbon cutting and shared his excitement for the completion of the project. State Representative Trey Rhodes, who was instrumental in securing the grant funding, spoke during the ceremony to express appreciation for all the hard work that helped to complete the project. Greta deMayo with the PATH Foundation also spoke expressing continued support for the Firefly Trail Project as it continues in the future through Oglethorpe County. And Greene County District 3 Commissioner Dee Lindsey concluded the ceremony thanking his fellow commissioners for supporting the project, and all those that worked to complete the project.

Greene County Chairman Gary Usry and Vice-Chairman Jeffery Smith both attended the ceremony to show their support for the project. Chairman Usry remarked how pleased he was with the cooperative efforts between the County and the cities of Union Point and Woodville, and how proud he was that this project has been completed. Usry stated that it is a “true legacy” type project given how many people will use the trail, the economic benefit the trail will provide over time, and how it was uniquely funded and constructed through wide-reaching cooperative efforts.

Planning is already underway to extend the Trail about 1,500-feet further south along Carlton Ave. in Union Point to deposit directly into the downtown district of the City of Union Point. This short segment may even include the unique feature of passing through an old ground-level water tank, but regardless, the connection to the downtown district of Union Point will put the finishing touches on a remarkable project.

FIREFLY TRAIL RIBBON CUTTING IN GREENE COUNTY nOVEMBER 3RD!

10/31/2023

FIREFLY TRAIL INC. ASSISTS WOODVILLE WITH MATCHING FUNDS

7/10/2023

(left-to-right): Greene County Manager Byron Lombard, Firefly Trail Development Coordinator John Kissane, FTI Board Member Lisa Baynes, Woodville Mayor Phil Brock, and Greene County Commission Chair Gary Usry.

Firefly Trail Inc., recently presented a $200,000 check to Woodville Mayor Phil Brock and Greene County leaders to assist with the city’s portion of local matching funds required to build the trail through Woodville.

The funds make it possible for Woodville and Greene County to complete a vital 2.6-mile section of the trail, combining new construction with portions of the
existing sidewalk and Elm Street. The section is a key connection linking two other segments of trail, which Greene County has nearly completed, south and north of Woodville from Union Point’s northern city limits to the Greene County/Oglethorpe County line. When construction is completed later this summer, Greene County, Woodville and Union Point together will host a 6.5-mile section of the Firefly Trail, the longest continuous section completed to date.

Ultimately, the Firefly Trail will span about 39 miles from Union Point to Athens on or fairly close to the historic corridor of the Georgia Railroad Athens
Branch.

“The City Council of Woodville and I would like to thank Firefly Trail Incorporated for the generous donation,” said Woodville Mayor Phil Brock. “We have a small community with no taxes, and completion of the trail would have been years away without this donation.” Greene County Manager Byron Lombard echoed Brock’s appreciative comments. “Greene County is very grateful for the partnership of Firefly Trail Inc. in the planning, development, and construction of the Firefly Trail Project,” Lombard noted. “Their commitment has been instrumental in this project, and their financial support is making the difference for completion of the project inside the city limits of Woodville.”

The project is being built using a $2.1 million grant from the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program (GOSP). As part of that grant, communities are required to provide a local match equal to 25% of the total project cost.

“The input of GOSP funds is absolutely critical to – and a real God-send for – the Firefly Trail and other natural resources projects around the state,” said Firefly Trail Inc. President Mark Ralston. “We extend our deepest thanks to Rep. Trey Rhodes and the Georgia Legislature for making it possible.” Ralston noted that the 25 percent local match requirement is “a tremendous hurdle for small towns and rural communities. FTI is thrilled that we were able to make such a substantial contribution to Woodville so that the project can be completed.”
The donation from Firefly Trail Inc. (FTI) was made possible primarily by support from Chattanooga-based Riverview Foundation.

Additional support came from hundreds of individual donations to FTI as well as corporate sponsorships such as those from Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center and Athens Physical Therapy. Also funded by the GOSP grant is clearing and grading for an extension of the existing trail in Maxeys and, in conjunction with a major donation from the PATH Foundation, installation of a bridge over North Rhodes Street in Union Point.

Media contact: John Kissane, (706) 254-5474 or jakissane@gmail.com

FIREFLY TRAIL BRIDGE OVER TRAIL CREEK DEDICATION APRIL 20TH!

4/6/2023

All friends and supporters of the Firefly Trail are strongly encouraged to gather along the trail near the Dudley Park pavilion area this Thursday afternoon (April 20), to participate in the dedication of the new Firefly Bridge over Trail Creek. Planned and hosted by Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services, pre-event festivities will begin at 3:30 p.m. with the ribbon-cutting set for 4:00 p.m. Attendees are invited to participate in the first crossing of the new 525-foot bridge and partake of refreshments among assembled ACC Commissioners, Mayor Kelly Girtz, and ACC staff, as well as FTI Board Members and other dignitaries.

Nearby parking prior to 4:00 p.m. will be limited to designated Greenway spaces at the Cook & Brothers Plaza off East Broad Street, the Poplar Street/Greenway lot behind Mama’s Boy as well as the Classic Center deck (payment required) with entrance off Foundry Street north of East Broad. Another option is the Oconee Street Park & Ride lot, located east of downtown at 10- Loop. Those utilizing the Park & Ride lot will enjoy walking or cycling a little less than a mile along the Firefly Trail as they approach Dudley Park. Remember that, since the east end of the new bridge will be closed until after the ribbon-cutting, those coming from the Park & Ride lot will need to drop down the switchbacks, cross Poplar at street level, and use the Greenway bridge to get into Dudley Park. After 4:00 p.m. all spaces should be open and free of charge to the general public in the large UGA Chicopee Complex lot on East Broad Street, directly north of Dudley Park and the new bridge.

We look forward to seeing everyone and celebrating this long-awaited accomplishment! The new bridge is beautiful!!! https://www.accgov.com/firefly

IMPORTANT TICKET TO RIDE UPDATE

3/24/2023

The mass start for Athens has been moved to 10 a.m.!
Bad news: the weather forecast for 9 a.m. tomorrow looks pretty stormy. Good news: The weather forecast for 10 a.m. looks much better. So if you don’t want to start riding at 9, all three of our registration sites will stay open until 10. Please note that we still have to end on-road SAG support at 4:30, so SAG support in Union Point and Athens will end at 1:30 to make sure long-distance riders have time to finish. SAG stops in Maxeys, Crawford and Winterville will close around 3:30 or 4. Please shorten your ride as needed. We look forward to seeing you!

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: CONDUCTOR LEVEL

3/23/2023

With the Firefly Trail/Athens Physical Therapy Ticket to Ride just days away, we want to thank our awesome Conductor-level sponsors for their help advancing the trail and making this ride great: Allergy Partners of Georgia, American Pest Control, Athens Orthopedic Clinic, Atlas Spine and Balance, Bass Landscaping Care, Barberitos, Jittery Joe’s Coffee, Mama’s Boy, and Thompson Construction. Y’all are awesome!

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: IN-KIND

3/22/2023

Saturday is the big day! We want to give a big shout-out to the in-kind sponsors who are making this year’s Ticket to Ride an A+ event. Huge thanks to Creature Comforts Brewing Co., First Baptist Church of Athens, Oconee Brewing Co., and Athletic Brewing Co. And a second shout-out to Georgia Cycle Sport and The Hub for their ride-day support!

TICKET TO RIDE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

3/21/2023

Ticket is Ride is our biggest event of the year. We need you to help make it happen. Volunteer shifts are short, easy, and fun. If you have an hour or two to spare on Saturday March 25th, please CLICK HERE to signup for a volunteer spot. Thanks!