Grant will allow for development of Sasser trailhead
Small community gets jump on trailhead development for Dougherty County-based trail system
By Gypsy Crow
SASSER — For the last two years, the town of Sasser has been making a serious pitch for inclusion along the Flint River Trails project. Sasser’s second attempt to receive a grant from the Department of Natural Resources was approved recently to move to the next level of consideration.
And officials with the planned trail system say that means approval is likely.
The planned building of a Sasser trailhead coincides with the building of the Albany-Sasser Rail-Trail project, which is set to be completed by May 5, 2020. The trail project is a concrete trail that will lead from downtown Albany to Sasser, a distance of about 15 miles. The Flint River Trail System will join with the Albany-Sasser Rail Trail and continue all the way to Radium Springs in southeast Dougherty County with about 25 to 30 miles of trails and waterways.
Dougherty County Attorney Spencer Lee, who has spearheaded efforts to bring a unified trail system to southwest Georgia, talked Thursday about the importance of having a trailhead in Sasser.
“A trailhead provides an opportunity for people coming through here to group, to walk, to put their bicycles on it, to put your baby carriages on it, to do all of these things, plus it provides a much-needed restroom for the city of Sasser as well as the trailhead itself along with parking,” Lee said during a meeting with Sasser officials.
The next step for the town will be acquisition of a deed from the state Department of Transportation for the property from mile 72.88 to Terrell Street in Sasser. Once acquired, Sasser and Albany will need to agree upon the terms for a possible lease agreement that would be required for the city of Albany to finish paving the trail. The location is currently leased by Genesee & Wyoming and Georgia Southwestern Railroad, both of which have agreed to give up rights to the land for the project.
Sasser also will need to complete an environmental study, which town officials say they not foresee any difficulties with. Paul Forgey, the director of Planning and Development Services and Code Enforcement for the city of Albany and Dougherty County, has been working closely with Sasser to complete all of the required steps.
The actual application for the project is for $125,000 to be used for plans drawn by Yielding, Wakeford, & McGee, an architectural firm located in Albany. Sabal Trail Transmission awarded Sasser an additional $50,000 from its grant program, half of which will be allocated for the construction of the trailhead and the other to reduce the burden of maintenance on Sasser.
Ed McBrayer of The Path Foundation said that group is involved with the project to give south Georgia something that would directly benefit its citizens and boost tourism. The Path Foundation is responsible for trail systems that span the Atlanta area.
Officials associated with the Flint River Trail project say trail systems will have positive results for the community. Trails increase the potential for economic development with businesses drawn to recreational areas. They offer many health benefits by encouraging visitors to walk around in the sunshine and fresh air. Trails promote sociability among users and, with the cooperation of law enforcement, offer a safe place for hikers.
The Sasser trailhead would be located at the Bobby J. Locke Park downtown. Town officials chose that property because it already provides amenities for the public such as a pavilion, running water and electricity.
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