One of the many qualities that makes Forsyth County such a great community is the abundance of natural resources. In our own backyard sits over 200 miles of Lake Lanier shoreline, one of the best hikes in Georgia at Sawnee Mountain Preserve and a kayaker’s dream on the Etowah River. One way the county is working to enhance those resources is by connecting them through a trail system.
A subarea plan in the northern portion of the county has been designed to establish a trail system that connects neighborhoods, county facilities and the county’s natural resources. The goal of this new east to west greenway is to eventually connect to the Big Creek Greenway, which runs north and south, benefiting the county as a whole.
Community input received through the recent Parks & Recreation Comprehensive Master Plan showed that 75 percent of respondents ranked walking on nature trails as the outdoor activity of most interest. Home owners appear to share a similar fondness of trails. According to a survey of recent homebuyers by the National Association of Home Realtors and Home Builders, trails rank as the second most important community amenity out of a list of 18 choices, partly due to home value increases when in close proximity to a greenway.
So what are your thoughts on the plan for an integrated trail system in north Forsyth?
A community open house will be held for citizen feedback on Monday, May 14 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Forsyth County Administration Building (110 E. Main Street).
I hope that you will take the time to be a part of the process to develop something that all residents of Forsyth County can enjoy for generations!