AN HISTORIC, WONDERFUL YEAR FOR TRAILS! |
|
Newton Trails, its partners, and most importantly its trail users had a remarkable 2021.
Construction
- Newton Trails volunteers resurfaced and opened the bridges over West Bear Creek and East Bear Creek. Then they removed the old and installed new bridge abutments at either end of both bridges. Finally, they cleared trees and brush along five miles of unpaved trail. All in preparation for the paving done by Newton County this past fall.
- Newton County then paved that five miles of the Cricket Frog Trail stretching from the Alcovy River to East Bear Creek. With that, 12.5 miles of the Cricket Frog Trail now have been paved.
- Newton Trails contracted with the PATH Foundation for engineering, design, and cost estimating for the renovation of the Alcovy River Bridge. That work has been completed, a design is in hand, and Newton Trails is working to raise the $612,257 needed for construction.
- The City of Covington put the final touches on the paved sections of the Cricket Frog Trail within its city limits and began work on renovating the Dried Indian Creek Bridge. That bridge and the trail between Emory Street and Pace Street will be completed and opened early in 2022.
- Newton County installed user-activated crossing lights at Piper Road.
- The City of Mansfield committed funds for the purchase and delivery of asphalt with plans to contract with Newton County to lay it on the unpaved 0.8 miles within its city limits. That work will be completed early in 2022.
Amenities
- Newton Trails received donations for 6 benches; 2 have been installed, the remainder are on order.
- Newton Trails received donations for 8 pet waste stations. All have been installed, 2 in the Mansfield area and 6 in Covington.
- Boy Scout Nick Forbes built a kiosk for the trailhead at Beaver Park.
Outreach
- Newton Trails provided input for the City of Covington's Central Park and Newton County's trail master planning efforts.
- Newton Trails received funding from Discover Covington for a new brochure, which is now available at the Covington Visitors Center and elsewhere.
- A partnership consisting of the Covington Family YMCA, Covington Conyers Cycling Club, Covington Police Department, and Newton Trails developed and offered a Bike Rodeo and the Celebrate Trails Challenge to promote safe cycling and trail use.
- Newton Trails staffed the first pit stop along the Covington Century routes and had information tables at the Horny Head Fish Festival, Bike Rodeo, Fuzz Run, Cheerio's Challenge, and Newton County Fall Festival.
- Newton Trails continued its tradition of sponsoring Wednesday morning group hikes open to anyone who is interested.
Volunteers
- New adopt-a-spot volunteers in 2021 included Clarks Grove HOA, Covington Family YMCA, First Presbyterian Church, Cynthia Eagan, Blair Northen, Beth and Jim Gilmore, Hayward DeRouen, Sr. and Vonda Latimore, plus the Historic Starrsville Community.
- Oxford College of Emory University students and college students from all over Georgia who are members of Circle-K each contributed a trail clean-up day.
- Newton Trails continued its tradition of calling together all available volunteers for an hour of trail maintenance on Thursday mornings and longer, occasional weekend maintenance sessions.
Of special note
- A live cricket frog was found along the Cricket Frog Trail near the Alcovy River.
- Newton Trails officially changed its name to Newton Trails, Inc., revised its mission statement to reflect the full scope of its vision, and expanded its board of directors from seven to ten members. Board members contributed a conservative, collective total of 2,110 volunteer hours.
- Newton Trails 2021 fund-raising campaign exceeded its goal of $25,000 and, as promised, the funds were used to surface and open the West Bear Creek and East Bear Creek bridges with the remainder applied to trail maintenance.
|
|
Newton County workers paving at East Bear Creek |
|
Bench donated in memory of Joey Courchaine |
|
Donated pet waste station and kiosk at Beaver Park |
|
|
|
Information table at the Covington Y Cheerios Challenge |
|
Oxford College of Emory University student workday |
|
Cricket frog found near the Cricket Frog Trail |
|
Putting a bollard in new paving |
|
One of many adopt-a-spot volunteers |
|
WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT UNAUTHORIZED VEHICLES ON THE TRAIL |
|
Unfortunately, there have been a few unauthorized vehicles on the Cricket Frog Trail, including golf carts, ATV's, motorcycles, and occasionally cars and trucks. The problem seems to be most common late afternoon or at night.
Some vehicles are on the trail for legitimate trail development or maintenance purposes. Those will be city or county vehicles or vehicles operated by Newton Trails' volunteers. These authorized vehicles should be easy to distinguish from unauthorized vehicles based on the time of day; slow and respectful speed of travel; markings, signage, or flashing lights; tools or equipment they carry or pull; work being done; or by asking the driver if you feel comfortable doing so.
Unfortunately, the recommendations for what to do if you spot an unauthorized vehicle differs depending on where the problem exists. Therefore, please remember the following:
- The Cricket Frog Trail south and east of the Covington Bypass (also known as Eagle Drive or Hwy 36) is under the jurisdiction of the Newton County Sheriff's Office. That includes the sections within the City of Mansfield because the Sheriff's Office provides police protection there.
- The Cricket Frog Trail north and west of the Covington Bypass are in the City of Covington and under the jurisdiction of the Covington Police Department.
How you can help in Covington. The City has enacted an ordinance barring unauthorized vehicles on trails within the City. Police Chief Stacey Cotton asks that trail users call 911 to report unauthorized vehicles. He also said "Please do not worry about tying up the 911 operators; there are plenty of lines and plenty of capacity to handle these and all other calls." Anyone caught using an unauthorized vehicle on a trail in Covington can be charged a $100 fine. The fine increases for repeat offenders.
How you can help in Newton County and Mansfield. The Sheriff's Office also encourages trail users to call 911 in case a deputy is close by. Chief Deputy Jerry Carter asked that trail users help submit names, descriptions, pictures, or videos of unauthorized vehicles and/or their drivers to the Sheriff's anonymous tip line. That line is available at www.newtonsheriffga.org/Updated%20Tipp.html. Carter stressed that people should never follow or chase unauthorized vehicles as that would only endanger everyone.
|
|
Newton Trails seeks to raise $25,000 for trail development and maintenance during its 2022 fund-raising campaign. If you have already contributed, thank you! If you would like to make a contribution you can find out how at newtontrails.org/donations.
Since the beginning of this year's campaign, Newton Trails supporters have contributed a total of $9,165, or 37% of goal.
|
|
NEWTON TRAILS' 2021 BUSINESS AND ORGANIZATION SPONSORS |
|
Newton Trails appreciates and always seeks to recognize and thank individuals, businesses, and organizations that contribute time, money, or materials in any amount.
Below are the logos for business and organizational sponsors that have provided financial support. For a list those sponsors that have provided in-kind or grant support, please go to www.newtontrails.org/about-our-partners.
|
|
SUPPORT NEWTON TRAILS BY FOLLOWING THESE LINKS |
|
The mission of Newton Trails, Inc., is to promote, develop, and sustain a connected system of greenway trails which support vibrant, healthy, and prosperous communities and the conservation of natural habitats, plants, and wildlife.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
