May 24, 2010
For immediate release
Rail-Trail dedication
set for June 5
The first 3.5-mile section of the Georgia
Coast Rail-Trail officially opens Saturday, June 5, with a 10 a.m. dedication
ceremony at the White Oak Post Office just north of Woodbine on Hwy.
17.
To celebrate the opening, Coastal Georgia
Rails to Trails and Camden County are inviting trail lovers of all ages
to come out and explore the trail, on foot or bicycle. Bicycles
will be available free of charge, courtesy of Monkeywrench Bicycles
of St. Simons Island and Camden Bicycle Center of St. Marys, or you
can bring your own for the inaugural ride.
The dedication is an approved event of
National Trails Day, sponsored by the American Hiking Society.
Children ages 5-12 will have the opportunity to enter the National Trails
Day coloring contest for
a chance to win an outdoor prize pack from The North Face and have their
artwork featured in American Hiker magazine.
Trail mix and bottled water will be provided
free to attendees.
This initial section of the Georgia Coast
Rail-Trail extends both north and south from White Oak. It is
the first part of a planned 68-mile trail to be built on an abandoned
CSX railroad bed running from Kingsland to Riceboro. The trail
will run across marshes, maritime forests, and 43 rivers and creeks
in Camden, Glynn, McIntosh, and Liberty counties.
The trail is 10-feet wide with a hard-packed
surface. On this section, the trail was constructed with finely
crushed concrete reclaimed from I-95. The surface accommodates
walkers, runners, and bikers - everything except skates, road bikes,
or motorized vehicles. Equestrians can ride on the grassy area
alongside the trail.
Amenities along the White Oak stretch
include a picnic shelter, benches, and restroom facilities. At
the trailhead in front of the post office, parking has been improved
to accommodate more visitors.
Visitors to the dedication will be able
to join Coastal Georgia Rails to Trails Inc., the organization developing
the Georgia Coast Rail-Trail. To track progress on the trail and
learn of other planned activities, go to www.georgiacoastrailtrail.org.
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Contact:
Leslie Lamkin, 912.638.9053