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Construction
- With support from Newborn and easements acquired by Newton Trails, Newton County Public Works built a new Cricket Frog Trail segment that extended the Trail from Zeigler Road to Newborn, a distance of about 0.6 miles.
- Newborn built a trailhead on Timberlake Drive that includes parking, a pavilion, and more.
- Covington extended the Cricket Frog Trail from Lakeview Drive to Turner Lake Road, a distance of about 0.2 miles.
- With these two extensions, the Cricket Frog Trail is now 15 miles long.
- We stenciled mile markers every 0.2 miles along the Cricket Frog Trail from the Covington Bypass (Hwy 36) to Newborn.
Planning
- An exciting new plan and trail route, envisioned to run parallel to Hwy 278 from Covington to Rivian's Stanton Springs site, was publicly released.
- Efforts aimed at establishing a route and trail connecting the Eastside Trail to Cricket Frog Trail are on-going.
Amenities & Maintenance
- A trail counter borrowed from Northeast Georgia Regional Commission was installed along the Cricket Frog Trail near Legion Field. An amazing 78,955 people passed the counter in one direction or the other between May 10, 2025 and January 7, 2026.
- Thanks to the generosity of Becton-Dickinson and local homeowner Pam Pace, a five-panel mural was painted along the Cricket Frog Trail. Find it between Legion Field and Floyd Street in Covington.
- With leadership from Greg Richardson (Newton Trails' board member), considerable volunteer work, and support from the Satsuki Garden Club and other donors, a pollinator garden has been established along the Cricket Frog Trail between West and Spring streets in Covington.
- In memory of the late John Keck and with support from Susie Keck, Newton Trails purchased and installed two water fountains, one near downtown Covington and the other in Mansfield's City Center Park.
- Newton Trails purchased a shipping container, placed it near the Starrsville trailhead, and is using it for equipment storage.
- Seven benches, two trash cans, and two pet waste stations were donated and installed along the Cricket Frog Trail.
Outreach
- With support from Discover Covington, Newton Trails updated and reprinted its brochure. Copies are available at the Covington Visitors Center.
- In June, an interview with Newton Trails' chair Chip West was featured in The Town Square Podcast.
- Newton Trials donated space near Pace Street in Covington for a University of Georgia Extension Service Master Gardener Program demonstration garden. We also helped Extension lay out horse trails at the Georgia FFA-FCCLA Center.
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We spoke to various service organizations and staffed tables at the Cheerios Challenge, Covington Century Bike Ride, Dr. Suess Day, Covington Family YMCA's Bike Rodeo, Newborn's Hornyhead Fish Festival and Tournament, and Sustainable Newton's Pollinator Count.
- Newton Trails decorated and displayed a Christmas tree as part of Covington's Lights at Legion program.
- This newsletter was sent to 1920 trail supporters, 44 more than our 2024 Annual Report. Over 4900 people follow us on Facebook, about 200 more than a year ago.
- For the eighth straight year, we sponsored Wednesday morning group hikes for anyone interested in joining. We are incredibly grateful to the volunteers who have led and continue to lead these hikes.
Volunteers
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Trail cleanup and work sessions were contributed by 7th-grade students from Peachtree Academy, Newton County Bar Association, Oxford College of Emory University students, Michelin Tread Technologies, Becton-Dickinson, and our Adopt-a-Spot volunteers.
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Weather allowing, volunteers completed trail maintenance projects every week throughout the year.
Of special note
- Newton Trails held a successful Oktoberfest fundraiser, presented by Rob Fowler and Mainstreet Land & Properties, at the OHCO District on October 3, 2025.
- The Georgia Business Journal named Newton Trails Best of Georgia in the Recreational Places category.
- Robert Lane, Shawn Johnson, Chris Martin, and Rodney Sheets joined the Newton Trails Board of Directors.
| | THE 2026 BOARD OF DIRECTORS | | Cynthia Eagan retired from the Newton Trails Board of Directors at the end of 2025, after eight years of extraordinary contribution. She connected us with the larger community, including taking leadership roles for planning and executing our annual fundraising events, giving presentations to area organizations, staffing tables at local events, developing new friendships, reaching out to new supporters, and more. Her deep connections within the community, her energy and efforts, as well as her constant cheerfulness well-served Newton Trails' mission. On behalf of the entire Newton Trails community and thousands of trail users, thank you Cynthia and keep smiling! | | | |
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2026 Officers: Duane Ford (Chair); Judy Tilmont (Incoming Chair); John McCarthy (Treasurer); and Rebecca Moore (Secretary).
Additional Directors: Chip West (Past Chair); Chris Martin; Debra Griffith; Greg Richardson; Jim Behning; Lowell Chambers; Robert Lane; Rodney Sheets; and Shawn Johnson.
| | | The new Cricket Frog Trail segment from Zeigler Road to Newborn | | Thursday trail maintenance volunteers clearing the path from Turner Lake to Lakeview road | | The new Cricket Frog Trail entrance built by Covington at Dorchester Place | | Peachtree Academy student volunteers | | A Newton Trails group bike ride on the Cricket Frog Trail | | The Wednesday hiking group on the Big Haynes Nature Trail | | Newton Trails Oktoberfest fundraiser | | One of two trail-specific fire and rescue vehicles purchased by the Newton County Fire Department | | The murals along the Cricket Frog Trail near Legion Field in Covington | | Sustainable Newton's Pollinator Count at the garden on the Cricket Frog Trail | | Covington Century cyclists at the first rest stop which is annually hosted by Newton Trails | | Newton Trails volunteers assembled giveaway bikes at the YMCA's Bike Rodeo | | One of two fountains installed along the Cricket Frog Trail in memory of John Keck | | | | |
It's important to remember the importance of trails. They:
- Provide recreation opportunities
- Promote health and wellness
- Bring tourists to our community
- Support economic and business development
- Provide safe alternative transportation routes
- Build a sense of community
- Enhance people's quality of life
| | NEWTON TRAILS' 2025 DONORS AND SPONSORS | | |
Newton Trails appreciates and here recognizes the contributors who so generously supported our work in 2025. If you see an error or omission, please let us know at info@newtontrails.org. We want to get it right!
For information about our Donor, Sponsor, and Supporter Recognition Program, please visit www.newtontrails.org/donor-recognition.
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DIAMOND ($10,000 or more)
City of Covington
Main Street Land & Properties
Newton County
Pratt Industries
Rob Fowler
Town of Newborn
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PLATINUM ($5,000 - $9,999)
Animal Medical Clinic
Jerry Bouchillon
General Mills
Greg & Lisa Herring
Mayfield Ace Hardware
Melissa McCarthy
Morton & Paige Oftedal
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GOLD ($2,500 - $4,999)
Beryl & Sally Budd
Bill & Julie Gramzinski
Chris & Barbara Martin
Ginn Motors
Greg & Tamara Richardson
John & Terri Anshutz
Les & Joan Conway
Mr. & Mrs. William Fortson
Newton County Chamber of Commerce & Leadership Newton County 2025
Peach State Construction Company
Rodney & Julia Sheets
Susie Keck
Tammy Nolan
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SILVER ($1,000 - $2,499)
Becton-Dickinson
Burge Plantation
Chip & Jonna West
Courtney Klebowski
Covington Conyers Cycling Club
Debra & Rich Griffith
Duane & Sheri Ford
Heather & Josh King
Lowell Chambers & Melanie Sheets
Mark & Lisa Hanson
Merriam Mikhail
Michelin Tread Technologies, Covington
Norris & Francie Little
Oxford College of Emory University
Progressive Insurance
Ronnie & Carol Shell
Scott Hubbard State Farm Insurance
Social 1832
Steve Kapp & Louly Hay-Kapp
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COPPER ($500 - $999)
Bill Couch
Carol & Andy Moore
Caroline Buckner
Carter & Julie Rogers
Cathy & Denny Dobbs
Christy Blanchford
Church of the Good Shepherd Episcopal
Covington Dental Partners
Covington Lions Club
Daniel Keever
Getra & Mark Sanders
GWES, LLC
Judy & Steve Tilmont
Caralyn K Leonard
Keck & Wood, Inc
Lisa Barlow
MB Buckner
Pam Pace
Rivian
Robert & Neely Lane
Satsuki Garden Club
Southern Bicycle League
The Doepke Law Firm, LLC
Timothy Potts
United Bank
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BRONZE ($0 - $499)
Barri & Steve Speeler
Cathy Laseter
Chad & Shirl Shultz
Corinne Makdisi
Daniel Walden
David Dennis
David & Connie Waller
Douglas Freeland
Emily Mills
Frances Bailey
Gina Shell
Greg LeClair
Greta DeMayo
Henry Little
Karmin Beam
Kim Bolling
Kroger Rewards
Larry Needham
Laurie Dearing
Linda Schmitt
Lucy Molinaro
Marcus Rawls
Marty & Kathi Flynn
Covington First United Methodist Men
Michael Hanley
Michelle Clark
Murphy Daniel
Richard Tardiff
Robert Weir
Roberta & Ed Winnicki
Rosalind Howell
Rush Signs & Tees
Sissy & Ron Skipper
Stephen Martin
Theodosia Wade
Victor & Beverly Weaver
William Watterson
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MAJOR IN-KIND DONORS
Ashton Hills Golf Club
Brian Dean
Burge Plantation
Dalton & Lisa Knox
Greg & Lisa Herring
Karen Burnette
Kwik Change Lube & Service Center with Economy Tire
Mark & Jill McGiboney
Mayfield Ace Hardware
OHCO District
Steve & Wanda Reagan
Strickland Turner, LLP
Theodosia Wade & Family
| | 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.
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