The official site of the Firefly Trail and Firefly Trail, Inc.
The Firefly Trail
  • Ticket to Ride
  • 2023 Race Series
  • DONATE
  • YEAR-END FUNDRAISER
  • About Us
    • Planned Trail
    • Model Miles
    • RESOURCES
    • Model Miles Donors
    • Get to Know Us
    • Contact
  • Guide/Maps
  • Volunteer

FIREFLY TRAIL INC. ASSISTS WOODVILLE WITH MATCHING FUNDS

7/10/2023

0 Comments

 
Picture(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

0 Comments

FIREFLY TRAIL BRIDGE OVER TRAIL CREEK DEDICATION APRIL 20TH!

4/6/2023

0 Comments

 
Picture
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​
0 Comments

*IMPORTANT TICKET TO RIDE UPDATE*

3/24/2023

0 Comments

 
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!
0 Comments

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: CONDUCTOR LEVEL

3/23/2023

0 Comments

 
Picture
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!
0 Comments

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: IN-KIND

3/22/2023

0 Comments

 
Picture
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!
0 Comments

TICKET TO RIDE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

3/21/2023

0 Comments

 
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!
0 Comments

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: BASS LANDSCAPING CARE

3/21/2023

0 Comments

 
Picture
We are thrilled to announce that Bass Landscaping Care has signed on as a first-time sponsor of the Ticket to Ride at the Mechanic level. Welcome – and thank you! Bass Landscaping provides green care services in the Athens area, including lawn maintenance, landscapes and hardscapes, and irrigation.
0 Comments

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: fIRST aMERICAN bANK AND TRUST

3/21/2023

0 Comments

 
Picture
We are very thankful that First American Bank and Trust is once again sponsoring the Ticket to Ride at the Mechanic level. FABT is a financial institution focused on offering personalized products and services that are tailored to serve their customers’ needs. 
0 Comments

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: BETTER COMMUNITIES COLLABORATIVE

3/21/2023

0 Comments

 
Picture
A big Firefly Trail welcome to the Athens-based Better Communities Collaborative as a Mechanic level sponsor. BCC is a family of innovative businesses with the unified mission to work towards a better tomorrow. The BCC footprint spans the continental United States, providing a dynamic support and service network across a wide range of industry sectors.

0 Comments

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: GREENWAY COMMISSION

3/21/2023

0 Comments

 
Picture
The Oconee Rivers Greenway Commission, one of our longest-term sponsors, is back again this year as a Mechanic-level sponsor of the Ticket to Ride. We can’t thank you enough for the ongoing sponsorship and partnership to create safe, fun, and environmentally sound trails for our community! 
0 Comments
<<Previous
    DONATE VIA CREDIT CARD
    DONATE VIA PAYPAL
    DONATE VIA VENMO
    NEWSLETTER SIGNUP
    Multi-use Trail Benefits
    Route Map
    (*DRAFT ONLY*)
    ​Local governments will determine the final route.
    Picture

    INstagram | FB

    Blog Archives

    July 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    October 2021
    August 2021
    March 2021
    January 2021
    November 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    January 2019
    August 2018
    May 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    May 2016
    January 2016
    July 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    December 2014
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013

    GIVE TO FIREFLY VIA KROGER

    ​Be sure to update your Kroger Plus to designate Firefly Trail, Inc. (Organization #BJ882) as your preferred community partner!

Firefly Trail, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
P.O. Box 710043, Maxeys, Georgia 30671 | facebook.com/fireflytrail | @fireflytrailGA