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Mile Posts
December, 2011 - Vol 2, Issue 4
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Help Wanted
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We need you! Help us make good things happen in Newton County. Make a tax-deductible contribution today.
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Stay Toasty Warm
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A Newton Trails sweatshirt sure would feel nice by the fire on these cold December nights. Order one and many other items in our on-line store. A portion of the proceeds from every purchase come back to Newton Trails.
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| Greetings! | |
Seasons Greetings, once again! I say once again, for we published our first edition of Mile Posts in December of last year. I hope this mailing finds you reflecting on a happy and prosperous year now past and looking forward with hope and excitement to the New Year fast upon us. That certainly sums up our feelings at Newton Trails. As you can read elsewhere in this newsletter, some wonderful things happened in Newton County in 2011 that have us heading into 2012 with incredible momentum and great hopes for trail building in the coming year. Nowhere is that momentum more evident than Porterdale, where good news seems to arise at every turn. We started 2011 learning that Porterdale would receive another Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) Transportation Enhancements (TE) grant to establish a trail head at the historic Railroad Depot. Then, this summer, a determined group of caring volunteers formed the Yellow River Preservation & Conservation group to clean up the river and establish launch/landing points for paddlers wanting to enjoy the natural beauty of the Yellow River. This fall, the National Park Service selected the Yellow River Park project in Porterdale as the only project in Georgia to receive technical assistance in 2012 for planning and developing an outdoor recreation area in Porterdale. And, just this month, trustees for the James Hyde Porter Trust announced Newton Trails would receive $15,000 to assist in relocating a donated boxcar from Norfolk Southern Railroad, to be placed at the Depot and renovated to house public restrooms and a changing facility for the trail head. In Covington, back and forth discussions regarding the future of the Central of Georgia Railroad corridor seem to have taken a positive turn, as the Covington City Council voted in December to form a committee for the purpose of gathering information to make a more informed decision about the opportunities presented. And, after years of cobbling together grants, assembling easements, and getting engineering approvals, Newton County and the City of Covington are ready to move forward on the Eastside Trail from Chimney Park to Eastside High School. The request for bids to construct the trail will be advertised on January 6, with a timeline to award the contract by February 21. All of which means, by mid summer, we should have us a trail to go enjoy! In Oxford, we hosted our second annual Harvest Picking at Old Church fundraiser on October 22. The turnout was great, and the performances by Andy Irwin, Dan & Perri Walden, and the Apostles of Bluegrass were are world class. They say good things come to those who wait... Well, not exactly... Good things come to those who persevere and never stop working to make good things happen. And, "those," in this case, would be you. Thanks to all our loyal supporters. We have a big year ahead, and we're going to need you there every step of the way. . Happy Trails,
 L. Maurice Carter Jr Chairman, Newton Trails |
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Police, Explorers Bring Bikes and Smiles to the Kids of Porterdale
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On Friday, December 23, Santa Claus came early to Georgia's Historic Mill Village in Porterdale. Thanks to the efforts and generosity of the Porterdale Police Department, Porterdale Police Explorers Post 1917, and many donors, more than 60 young people in Porterdale received shiny new bicycles for Christmas this year. The smiles and laughter were abundant and heartwarming.
As Mayor-elect Arline Chapman overheard one excited child exclaim: "Now, I can get to see my friends faster!"
These enthusiastic young cyclists are a great example of the energy building in Porterdale and a prime reason why Newton Trails is committed to helping build the Yellow River Park and the Yellow River/Turkey Creek Greenway. These children need a safe, inviting place to get outside and enjoy healthy recreation and character-building activities.
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We've Got Ourselves a Boxcar, Willie
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As the City of Porterdale was making plans to convert the Historic Railroad Depot into a trail head to serve the Yellow River Park, the Turkey Creek/Yellow River Greenway, and paddlers on the Yellow River, Mayor Bobby Hamby had an innovative idea for providing public restrooms. He approached Norfolk Southern Railroad about donating a boxcar to be converted into restrooms and a changing facility at the site of the Depot. Norfolk Southern happily agreed, but there was one small problem: how to get the box car from a drop off point along the railroad spur at US-278 to the site in Porterdale. The expense was something the city simply did not have in its budget.
This Fall, Newton Trails committed ourselves to helping solve that problem. And, in November, we applied to the Newton Committee of the James Hyde Porter Testamentary Trust, requesting a grant to help relocate the boxcar and install it alongside the Depot. This month, we received the wonderful news that the Committee awarded us $15,000. We expect that grant will cover the expenses to get the boxcar put into place. Now, we need to raise money to retrofit the inside with mens and womens restrooms and changing areas. Seeing the boxcar installed will be a tangible sign of the great things to come in Porterdale. And, these restrooms will serve not only the trail head, but also the Farmers Market, the Public Library, and the many public events held throughout the year. Please use the Donate button in this email, or visit our website for more information on how to contribute.
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National Park Service Signs on to Help Plan, Develop Yellow River Park in Porterdale
|  In late October, Newton Trails, the City of Porterdale, and other community partners received the much anticipated news that the Porterdale Yellow River Park project was selected by the National Park Service (NPS) to receive technical assistance in 2012 under the Rivers, Trails, & Conservation Assistance program. As the only project selected in Georgia, and one of only six across the southeast, this was a great endorsement for what we are trying to accomplish with outdoor recreation in Porterdale and Newton County. In the coming year, the NPS will help us establish a common vision among stakeholder organizations, develop a phased implementation plan, and identify funding strategies to make the park a reality. Look for lots of exciting news and things move full steam ahead in 2012. |
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