Forums in Winterville to focus on Firefly Trail

There are Saturday sessions in Winterville, focusing on the Firefly Trail. The plan to extend the trail from Hancock Road to Moore’s Grove Road in downtown Winterville is the topic of two forums, one set for 9 til noon and other from 6 til 8 at Pittard Park in Winterville. The public input sessions are organized by the Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services Department.

From the Athens-Clarke Co government website…

The Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services Department will host a series of public information open houses regarding proposed plans for the extension of the Firefly Trail from Hancock Road to Moores Grove Road in Winterville (SPLOST 2018 Project #6 Sub-Project #3). This anticipated connection will traverse mostly along the original Athens Branch of the Georgia Railroad bed, following along Spring Valley Road and connecting to the Winterville section of the trail, which is currently under construction and anticipated to be complete by January 2023. The design team will provide information regarding the three proposed alternate alignments in the Oakmont Subdivision area at the online informational open house. Staff will discuss the preliminary plans for each proposed alternate alignment and the project timeline.

Two in-person drop-in sessions are scheduled for Saturday, December 5 from 9 a.m. to noon. and Thursday, December 10 from 6 to 8 p.m. These informational sessions will take place at the Pittard Park main picnic shelter at 115 Parkview Road in Winterville. Attendees are reminded to adhere to social distancing guidelines and wear face coverings. Time limits may be imposed based on number of attendees.

History of the Project: On November 7, 2017, Athens-Clarke County citizens approved the Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (TSPLOST) 2018 Program Referendum, which included the Firefly Trail Project (Project #06). This project includes the land acquisition, design, and construction of additional length of the Firefly Trail from the end of the work completed under the SPLOST 2011 Program. Preliminary plans were presented to the public in August 2020 with a public input period.   On September 9, 2020, the public comment period closed for Firefly Trail Sub-Project 3 Preliminary Plans with requests for alternative alignment analysis be completed prior to finalizing the alignment in the Oakmont Subdivision area. Three proposed alternate routes have been identified by staff.

For more information, please visit the Department’s Park Planning website at www.accgov.com/LeisureServicesListens for the latest information regarding this project, email park.planning@accgov.com, or call 706-613-3801.

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