3/28/17

Full-Map-WHCO_IMBA_TRAILS(Cleveland)- It has taken about two years, but there could be a light at the end of the tunnel in the process of opening up, to the public, Yonah Preserve recreation area north of Cleveland. 

At Monday’s White County Commission meeting  Clark Neal, with Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association and Yonah Preserve Trail project coordinator,  announced to the commissioners a contract bid was selected for work on the first phase of a multi-use trail in the preserve. 

Neal said the construction, by Flowmotion Trail Builders along with volunteer help from SORBA,   is expected to begin in June with a possible completion date in August.  The majority of the cost for this 3.3 mile project will come from a $95,000  grant from the Georgia Department of natural Resources. 

White County Commission Chairman Travis Turner said, this is only the beginning for the 1,000 acre recreation area.   “ this is one part of a multi-layer project and at the end of the day we hope to create a destination point of Yonah Preserve,” commented Turner.   

The public will access this section of the recreation area off  Albert Reid Road and Turner said by late fall they hope  to open the gates for the public to explore,  he said “ by sometime in October, I would hope that we can open it up, at least for a weekend or two before winter sets in and give folks an opportunity to start waking and taking a look at the area.”   

Neal advised the commissioners that this fall phase II  of the trail project will get underway, it too will be funded by another DNR grant.