Newton Trails

There's a familiar saying:  "Those who say it can't be done should get out of the way of those who are doing it."  I'm taking it a step further.  Forget those who say it can't be done, find those who are doing it, and help make it happen!  Where there's no will, there's no way.  And, greenway trails are built with willpower.

Local news has been dominated for months by repeated refusals from the Covington City Council and Newton County Board of Commissioners to consider acquiring the Central of Georgia Railroad corridor -- for trail use or any other purpose.  We'll take that up another day, for there are many pages left unturned in that book.  But, today, I want to highlight a story receiving far less coverage:  the recent Transportation Enhancements (TE) grant awarded to the City of Porterdale by the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT).  That $250 thousand grant, backed by local SPLOST collections and private contributions, will fund a project to convert the Historic Railroad Depot into a trail head and community events facility and also construct a concrete trail connecting the Depot to Broad St and the existing loop trail by the Yellow River.

I met Thursday morning with Porterdale Mayor Bobby Hamby, City Manager Bob Thompson, and the city's contracted engineer Marty Boyd.  We reviewed drawings and the project budget.  By itself, restoring the Depot and creating a short connecting trail is a great first step.  But, even more impressive are the city's visionary plans for a comprehensive Riverside Park in the area along the river across Broad St north of the Lofts.  When you factor in the county's Turkey Creek/Yellow River Trail project that would connect Porterdale to Newton High School and Turner Lake Park in Covington, your imagination runs wild.  Leveraging the greenway trail system with a water trail for canoists, kayakers,  and boaters on the Yellow River, you quickly see the tourism and economic development impacts that will transform Porterdale.

Porterdale is a  city with big dreams taking small steps.  And at a time when larger communities seem paralyzed by a lack of unified vision, small steps are cause for big celebration!  These are the people who created a community garden, a farmers market, and a public library from sheer will, personal determination, and a refusal to be limited by things as they are.  These are the people who will someday restore their beloved  landmark gymnasium lost to fire.  And, these are the people who will create a Riverside Park that is the envy of all Newton County and beyond.

At Newton Trails, we support and admire the people of Porterdale.  In the weeks ahead, I will work with our board and the City of Porterdale to determine how best to partner and assist them in their cause.  And, I know we can count on you, our supporters, to join us in that effort. 

In this video, a group of adults said it couldn't be done.  But the will of a young boy, personally committed to creating a different reality, inspired a different outcome.  We've found that will in Porterdale, now let's find the way!