TOGETHER WE DID IT! THANK YOU.
NEWTON TRAILS HAS REACHED AND EXCEEDED ITS 2021 SUPPORTER CAMPAIGN GOAL OF $25,000.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO MADE A DONATION IN SUPPORT OF MULTI-USE RECREATIONAL TRAILS IN NEWTON COUNTY!
The funds will be used to put temporary surfaces on the trestles over East Bear Creek and West Bear Creek. In fact, that work has already begun at East Bear Creek, see pictures below.
If the cost of these two projects total less than $25,000 the difference will be spent on trail amenities or maintenance equipment as promised. Funds raised in excess of $25,000 will be allocated for the engineering and design work needed to renovate the Alcovy River trestle into a trail bridge and other priority projects.
ADDITIONAL DONATIONS IN SUPPORT OF NEWTON TRAILS' MISSION ARE ALWAYS WELCOME.
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Laying out and screwing down stringers. Planks will be screwed to the stringers to create a bridge surface. |
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Jim Behning, project manager, drives a screw on East Bear Creek Trestle.
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Stringers are in and ready for planking. The bridge will remain closed until the new surface has been completed.
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CRICKET FROG FOUND NEAR ITS EPONYMOUS TRAIL |
Local resident and Georgia State University student Joshua Davis found and photographed a cricket frog along the Cricket Frog Trail near the Alcovy River. It is about the size of a half dollar.
He and his mother, JoEllyn Davis, are regular trail users and astute observers of local fauna. They have shared several photos of wildlife seen along the trail.
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CRICKET FROG TRAIL DEVELOPMENTS |
COVINGTON - Phases 1 and 2 of Covington's effort to pave the Cricket Frog Trail within its city limits is complete except for a few final details. The trail is now paved from Turner Lake Road to Emory Street, a distance just under 1.46 miles, and from Pace Street to the Covington Bypass (Highway 36), a distance of 2.15 miles. The final details include the installation of bollards and signs as well as construction of access points.
Phase 3 will complete the section between Pace and Emory streets and include renovation of the Dried Indian Creek Bridge. It is hoped that this work will be completed this year. This section will remain closed until the bridge has been fully renovated.
NEWTON TRAILS - As mentioned above, Newton Trails is placing a temporary bridge surface on the trestle over East Bear Creek. Until the work is complete and the "Bridge Closed, Do Not Cross" signs are taken down, please do not attempt to cross this or any of the four trestles along the Cricket Frog Trail.
Later this year, Newton Trails also will put a temporary surface on the West Bear Creek trestle.
These two temporary surfaces will open the possibility of adding up to 5 more miles of continuously paved trail between East Bear Creek and the Alcovy River trestle. How many of those miles are actually paved this year will depend on how much paving Newton County does after it finishes its highway work this summer and fall.
BENCH DONATION - A group of co-workers at the Department of Driver Services has raised the funds needed to buy and install a bench in memory of Joey Courchaine, a Covington resident and dedicated trail user. It will be installed in a shady spot between Mill Street and Conyers Street in Covington.
Anyone interested in donating a bench, pet waste station, trash can, and/or bicycle rack should email their interest to info@newtontrails.org. Newton Trails will share prices and work with you on location, plaques, and other details.
MILEAGE CHARTS AND SIGNS - Mileage charts for the trail in and east of Covington as well as in and around Mansfield are available at www.newtontrails.org/cricketfrogtrail. You may use them to determine trail mileage between various points along the trail. Mile marker signs have been designed and will be installed at least every half-mile along the trail.
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ADOPT-A-SPOT - Newton Trails welcomes its newest Cricket Frog Trail adopt-a-spotters:
- Covington Family YMCA Staff - Conyers Street to the Covington Bypass.
- Historic Starrsville Community - Old Starrsville Road to Dixie Road
The Clark's Grove HOA held a cleanup day on its adopted section of the Cricket Frog Trail, Turner Lake Road to Park Street, on the first day of spring, March 20. Many thanks to them for their work and for sharing their pictures below!
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NEWTON TRAILS AND THREE LOCAL PARTNERS TO OFFER TWO TRAIL-RELATED EVENTS IN APRIL |
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The Covington Conyers Cycling Club, Covington Family YMCA, Covington Police Department, and Newton Trails are co-sponsoring two, free, trail-related, and family-friendly activities.
The Celebrate Trails Challenge, April 17-23, asks participants to explore at least three of Newton County’s many trails and spend at least 150 minutes doing so. Those who complete the Challenge will be entered into drawings for gift cards. There will be one drawing for adults and one for youth. Details and an entry form are available at www.newtontrails.org/single-post/celebrate-trails-challenge.
The Bike Rodeo, April 24 from 2:00-4:00 p.m. at Legion Field in Covington, will offer safety and instructional stations, outdoor group bicycle classes, and group trail rides. There will be giveaways and raffles for bicycles. Watch the co-sponsors' Facebook and web pages for details.
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On March 31, Newton Trails is restarting weekly hikes. Notification for each week's hike will be sent out Mondays. If you are not on the weekly hike list, but want to be, please send a note to info@newtontrails.org.
To minimize the potential for exposure to COVID-19 we will follow these guidelines:
- We will meet at the trail-head and not car pool from Covington.
- We will not eat in restaurants for now, but weather permitting bring lunches and find a pavilion or set of picnic tables and spread out.
- We will keep socially distant and wear masks when appropriate, especially when we are not able to spread out or are in an area with other people, such as public restrooms. Feel free to to wear a mask at all times.
- When we meet people or groups on the trail, we will step off to keep a good distance or put a mask on and let them pass.
- Any hiker that comes down with the virus after a hike is responsible for informing the hike leader so all participants can self-quarantine until CDC guidelines are met as well as not participate on the next hike. Newton Trails will keep contact information in Constant Contact for all hikers to facilitate communication.
- If someone has a potential exposure to the virus outside our hiking group they should self-quarantine from the hiking group until they have a negative test or have gone 10 days without symptoms, or whatever the CDC guidelines are at that time.
- We will not hike in areas with lots of other people or with people running on the trails.
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NEWTON TRAILS' 2021 BUSINESS AND ORGANIZATION SPONSORS |
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Newton Trails appreciates and always seeks to recognize and thank individuals, businesses, and organizations which contribute time, money, or materials in any amount.
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Support Newton Trails by following these links |
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Newton Trails' mission is to promote, develop, and sustain a connected system of trails that supports a vibrant, healthy, and prosperous community. |
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