Hiking, cycling trails, disc golf to be included
Hikers and cyclists can look forward to a new site to adventure in Blue Ridge for free.
The non-profits Southeastern Trust for Parks and Land, Inc. as well as the Georgia Cycling Association and MTB Atlanta are currently planning and preparing a site off Cedar Valley Road at Fightingtown Creek for the purpose of a park and nature preserve.
The site is being called the Fightingtown Creek Nature Park and will sit among 190 acres of natural land. It will include around 10 miles of natural surface, multi-use hiking and biking trails, a disc golf course, a community picnic area and an apiary, targeting youth in the sixth to twelfth grade age range.
There will also be nature-based signage, native plants and wildlife supportive items along the trail.
The trail building will be managed by Ken Nix who has also managed the building of Talking Rock Nature Park in Talking Rock, Georgia, and Pumkinvine Creek Nature Park in Dallas, Georgia.
“It’s going to serve the greater community of Fannin,” Kenny Griffin, of the Georgia Cycling Association, said. “The Aska trail systems, you know, are just flooded with tourism, right? ... And, they’re very difficult, they’re challenging, they’re steep, they’re technical, they’re built by hand, you know, in the 80s.”
Building will consist of two phases; the first phase will involve creating five miles of cross-country trail for riders of all abilities and experience as well as a parking lot and trail signage. The projected cost of this phase is $113,500.
The second phase will consist of creating downhill runs and bike park elements.
In addition, the park will be supported by the Friends of Fightingtown Creek Nature Park.
“This group is beginning to form and will be a standing committee of SE Trust,” the website says. “The group’s activities will include volunteer site maintenance and improvement, organizing special events at the site, fundraising for the group’s activities and projects, and input on the site’s initial and ongoing usage and development. The local cycling community will provide volunteer support for the trails system: Georgia Cycling League local teams, SORBA, North Georgia Mountain Bike Club, Georgia Bikes!, Blue Mountain Bikes (Blue Ridge), and Cartecay Bikes (Ellijay).”
Additionally, the site will be open for local cross country teams and other mountain bike teams.
As a non-profit driven project, donations are accepted and appreciated. Donations can be made by visiting https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/bowsM1tTvjauGshU9OnUcw.
Volunteer to help by emailing Fightingtownpark@georgiacycling.org.