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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!

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: BASS LANDSCAPING CARE

3/21/2023

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.

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: fIRST aMERICAN bANK AND TRUST

3/21/2023

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.

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: BETTER COMMUNITIES COLLABORATIVE

3/21/2023

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.

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: GREENWAY COMMISSION

3/21/2023

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!

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: AARDVARK EXTERMINATORS

3/21/2023

We are pleased to welcome AArdvark Exterminating of Athens as a Mechanic level sponsor. Aardvark, a locally owned and operated pest control service, has been servicing Athens and the surrounding area for over 20 years.