  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 [email protected].
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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! 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. |
The Firefly Trail is a community-driven rail-trail in progress. When complete, it will stretch about 39 miles between Union Point and Athens, Ga., connecting three counties and seven towns with a wide, paved, off-road path for walking, running, cycling and rolling. This trail celebrates the historic corridor of the Georgia Railroad Athens Branch, the state’s first chartered railroad.
Route Map
(*DRAFT ONLY*) Local governments will determine the final route. 
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March 2025
GIVE TO FIREFLY VIA KROGERBe sure to update your Kroger Plus to designate Firefly Trail, Inc. (Organization #BJ882) as your preferred community partner!
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