Flint River Water Trail receives Hero Award
Special Photo: GRN
From staff reports
ATHENS — Georgia River Network officials presented the organization’s 2022 Water Trail Hero Award to the Flint River Water Trail during the Georgia Governor’s Tourism Conference in Athens recently. Carolyn McKinley from the Meriwether County Chamber of Commerce accepted the award on behalf of the entire water trail group.
The Flint River Water Trail is part of a statewide network of Georgia water trails that is showcased on the Georgia River Guide, a free mobile app that offers outdoor enthusiasts easy access to information on 37 water trails encompassing more than 2,500 river miles.
The award recognized the Flint River Water Trail and project managers from Meriwether County for their collaboration with representatives from 18 riverfront counties and the Flint Riverkeeper. Together, they worked to establish access points and outdoor recreation opportunities that will lead to economic development and river advocacy opportunities all along the Flint River.
“We know that when paddlers and anglers come to a water trail, they stop for gas and snacks, sometimes camp or get a hotel room, and visit local restaurants and shops,” Andrea White, community programs coordinator at Georgia River Network, said in a news release. “A water trail is a great way to leverage a community’s natural assets to provide recreational and economic opportunities.
“The collaboration happening on the Flint River is really exciting because it will simultaneously spur tourism opportunities and also introduce people to river issues and engage them in the protection of their local waterways.”
A water trail is defined as the water equivalent to a hiking trail with clear access points, similar to a trailhead, where swimmers, boaters, paddlers and anglers can legally and safely access the trail. Water trails are encouraged to follow best practices, including sponsorship by a local entity, or partnerships at multiple safe public access points within easy paddling distance of each other, and proper signage or kiosks at all river access points.
White presented the award to McKinley on the second day of the conference during Georgia River Network’s showing of “Okefenokee Destiny,” a 14-minute PBS EcoSense for Living documentary about the mine that’s threatening the future of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. This showing at Ciné theater is the first in a series of showings that GRN will present across the state between now and the end of the year. Information about the showings is accessible at https://garivers.org/protectokefenokee/.
Past recipients of the Georgia Water Trail Hero Award include Georgia Power Company, Georgia DNR and Representative Lynn Smith, among others.
More details about the Georgia River Guide mobile app can be found on the Georgia River Network website: https://garivers.org/georgiariverguide/.
GRN is a statewide 501(c)(3) organization with the mission of helping everyone enjoy, connect with and advocate for economically vital and clean flowing rivers.
Author
Related Articles
My Grandpa Was Killed in World War II. I Met Him Through His Letters Home
Gina Wolf’s grandfather died before she was born. His letters sent to her grandmother from Europe during World War II made it possible to know what kind of man he was.
‘Sounds Like a Mutiny.’ Secret Recording Exposes Claims of Toxic Leadership After a Marine’s Suicide
This week’s War Horse story follows the systemic failures before and after the death of Cpl. Drew Mobley who was the third in two years at Marine Corps Base Quantico to die by suicide.
Southwest Georgia artists recognized at packed opening of exhibition
The annual juried exhibition, one of the region’s largest showcases of visual art, features approximately 46 artists and nearly 90 works spanning painting, sculpture, ceramics, photography and mixed media.
