Page 20 August 8, 2021
StarNews
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CARROLLTON GREENBELT from front page from UWG; 2017 Award for Environmental Excellence from Keep Carroll Beautiful; 2017 Georgia Recreation and Parks Association Volunteer of the Year award; and 2018 Honorary Doctorate from UWG for Social Science research on the GreenBelt. Richards currently serves as a national board member for the Trust for Public Land and 100 Miles, a GA non-profit, that helps protect the 100 miles of the Georgia coast. Past board service includes serving on the Carroll County Board of Health, Georgia and Alabama Land Trust, the PATH Foundation in Atlanta, and Tanner Medical Foundation in Carrollton. She is currently a student again, this time at Columbia University where she is pursuing certification as a counselor for high schoolers. She is married to Jim Naughton and they have three teenage daughters. “What a green belt does is give people a place to play in and a place to pray in,” Laura continued. “The GreenBelt gives our residents an opportunity to get back outdoors and enjoy the area.” The rules of the trail are simple and straightforward: - ttrail is open to all non-motorized users, with the exception that motorized wheelchairs are allowed. - trail is open from dawn to dusk: closed at night - trail users shall not enter posted private property - alcoholic beverages, drugs, and non-permitted firearms are not allowed - vandalism and theft of trail amenities will result in prosecution - reckless use of bicycle which endangers other trail users is prohibited - it is asked that trail users do not smoke on the trail “Trail users will discover the Little Tallapoosa River, the city park, the university, nature, neighborhoods, and even cattle. We may be the only green belt in the country where you can view cattle,” Richards added with a laugh. “It allows all of us to
enjoy the beauty of our part of the country!” of West Georgia was the first green belt trail in the university There are six easily accessible trailheads located around the system in the state. I need to give a shout out to the Carrollton City of Carrollton: Parks and Recreation who maintain the Greenbelt along with • Laura’s Park at Hays Mill Trailhead, 480 Hays Mill Road, the volunteers who help with clean-ups. We are a model for Carrollton: located immediately north of Hays Mill Overlook other communities to come study and gather more information, • Old Newnan Road Trailhead, 515 Old Newnan Road, like Newnan and LaGrange. Both the University and the City Carrollton: located on Old Newnan Road across from the DMV have received national recognition for their involvement in office Carrollton GreenBelt.” • Visitors Bureau Trailhead, 102 North An added benefit to the GreenBelt has been “Trail users will discover the establishment of events and gathering Lakeshore Drive, Carrollton: located just off the Little Tallapoosa Bankhead Highway overseeing Lake Carroll places such as Disc Golf, art exhibits, Outdoor • Lakeshore Park Trailhead, 600 North River, the city park, the Fit Court, 5Ks, and the Buffalo Creek Nature Lakeshore Drive, Carrollto: located across Trail. university, nature, from baseball fields on Lakeshore Drive Reflecting back Laura Richards explained, • Hobbs Farm Park Trailhead, 500 neighborhoods, and even “We knew the community needed it and it cattle. We may be the Believers Boulevard, Carrollton: from would be something we could always enjoy. Adamson Square, travel north on Rome The first step was to build a model mile and only green belt in the Street, turn right onto Believer’s Boulevard, country where you can then everyone would get the concept. So we continue to the parking area did - near the old soccer fields, and everyone view cattle,” Richards • Alabama Street Trailhead, Alabama did get it - adding 17 more miles. And now added with a laugh. Street, Carrollton: from Adamson Square, with the pandemic, residents are enjoying it travel west on Alabama Street, pass Columbia now more than ever!” Drive, the parking is on the right, just before The Friends of the Carrollton GreenBelt is a There are six easily the bridge grassroots organization that is striving to create accessible trailheads The Carrollton Grenbelt also has an Adopt an environmentally sensitive trail system in located around a Trail program. Individuals, families and Carrollton while promoting health, fitness, and organizations may get involved by supplethe City of Carrollton livability. menting the maintenance efforts by picking Laura concluded her lunch visit with the up litter, reporting repair needs and cleaning trail signage. To Carrollton Kiwanians by reading her most favorite note about adopt a trail, volunteers are required to attend a half-an-hour The Grenbelt. She received. the following from a 10 year old orientation. If you or your organization are interested, go to car- who wrote, “I am very thankful for you making the GreenBelt. I rolltongreenbelt.com.The website also contains trail resources love riding my bicycle on it. Going there right now!” and updates. Many, like this child, have take advantage of this Carrollton Laura said, “It is a testament to the value of partnerships, treasure. both personal and private. The GreenBelt is not possible withFor more information on Kiwanis of Carrollton visit out the cooperation of residents, business, the City of www.carrolltonkiwanisclub.org. They meet every Friday at Carrollton, and the University of West Georgia. The University noon.
