Macon-Bibb County and NewTown Macon have been selected to proceed to the next step in a process for a $92,000 grant from the Federal Recreational Trails Program that is administrated by the Department of Natural Resources. The grant will allow the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail to be built from the south side of Amerson River Park to the Riverside Cemetery portion of the Trail.
Macon-Bibb County, NewTown Macon, the Macon Water Authority (MWA), and other partners supporting different parts of the Trail will hold a press conference on Wednesday, May 4, 2016, at 9:00 a.m. The press conference will be held at the roundabout by the Bragg Jam Canoe Takeout in Amerson River Park. Details of the trail extension – and what it will mean to the ongoing work to connect neighborhoods with a pedestrian and bike friendly route – will be discussed at that time.
In December 2015, the Macon-Bibb County Commission approved applying for this grant, and Macon-Bibb learned in early April the project was selected as one of 12 applicants out of a pool of 57 projects. The grant requires a minimum local match of 20%, or $18,400. Donations have been given by the Peyton Anderson Foundation, E.J. Grassmann Trust, James Hyde Porter Trust and Community Foundation of Central Georgia to help complete this portion of the trail. Donors can still make contributions to the OHT Construction Fund at newtownmacon.com.
In addition to the grant and donations, the MWA will make improvements to its sewer main access that will allow the trail to piggy back on its maintenance roads, which greatly aides in making the project possible.
“We’re very excited that the timing worked out and the improvements will mutually benefit our infrastructure while creating a great amenity for our community,” says Tony Rojas, MWA Executive Director.
“The Ocmulgee Heritage Trail is one of our community’s great assets, connecting East Macon to Downtown, and with the ongoing expansion, we’ll eventually connect it and the surrounding neighborhoods to two of our greatest open spaces: Amerson River Park and the Ocmulgee National Monument,” says Macon-Bibb County District 2 Commissioner Larry Schlesinger.
The next step of the process is for Macon-Bibb and NewTown to submit documentation studying impacts the trail project will have on the natural environment, endangered species, and archaeological resources.
About Amerson River Park
Amerson River Park is the former site of the Macon Water Authority’s treatment plant that was submerged in the Flood of 1994. After a new treatment plant was built away from the river, the area became a 166-acre rugged park. A federal grant of $5.5 million allowed Macon-Bibb County to shut down Amerson River Park for 15 months to make significant improvements, including two new picnic pavilions, upgrades to the Porter Pavilion area, a scenic river overlook, bathrooms at the playground, 3.5 miles of paved trails, 0.75 miles of mulch trails, a grand entrance, a new canoe takeout, and more. It reopened in May 2015, and during those summer months, more than 3,000 people visited it per week.
About the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail
Envisioned by NewTown Macon’s founders in 1996, the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail is a linear park running eleven miles along the Ocmulgee River for walking, running, jogging, biking, picnicking, canoeing, kayaking, roller blading and recreating with your pet! The Trail is a public/private partnership among many non-profit, philanthropic, and government partners. NewTown Macon plans trail expansions and improvements and raises private funds to support these goals. Once trail is complete, we turn over the improvements to Macon-Bibb County to operate in perpetuity as a public park.
The master plan for the Trail is administered by a volunteer committee working under NewTown Macon’s board consisting of Chris Sheridan, Chair, Mayor Robert Reichert, and Tony Rojas. The current master plan for the trail prioritizes a connection from the Otis Redding Bridge south along the river to existing trail in the Ocmulgee National Monument. The next project will be a $2 million permanent trail from Amerson River Park to Riverside Cemetery running along the river. Contributions to trail improvements, expansion and endowment are accepted all the time at newtownmacon.com or at 555 Poplar St., Macon, GA 31201.