The nonprofit Coastal Georgia Greenway, Inc. hosted a meeting in St. Marys, Georgia, in early March to highlight recent progress in completing Georgia’s portion of the East Coast Greenway. Attendees discussed plans for future greenways and trails that will “connect residents and visitors to the natural beauty and culture of coastal Georgia,” says Ben Slade, chair of Coastal Georgia Greenway's board of directors.
Brent Buice, Georgia’s coordinator for the East Coast Greenway Alliance, shared the news that three sections of the St. Marys Tabby Trail were recently designated as official segments of the East Coast Greenway. The newly designated segments include the brick path at the waterfront Gateway property and the concrete paths adjacent to Point Peter Road and Charlie Smith Senior Highway. Buice presented stamped metal signs to local business owner and Greenway advocate Terry Landreth. These completed trail segments, along with a section currently under construction along Laurel Island Parkway, represent a major advancement of the regional Three Rivers Trail, which will connect St. Marys, Woodbine, and Crooked River State Park.
Phil Scanlan, leader of Friends of Amelia Island Trail, shared successes in trail construction on Amelia Island and laid out a strategy for securing a permanent ferry between St. Marys and Amelia Island that will allow people to bike on trails in both communities. St. Marys officials in attendance expressed support for the ferry and noted the significant tourism that such a connection would bring to the city and Camden County.
The group also expressed support for the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Act (HB 332), which will dedicate a small portion of existing state sales tax to be used for land conservation and the development of “regionally significant” trails, such as the Coastal Georgia Greenway.
Coastal Georgia Greenway, Inc. board members were joined at the meeting by officials from Savannah, Kingsland, St Marys, Camden County, Amelia Island, Florida, as well as staff from the East Coast Greenway Alliance.
