week of 5/15/02
 
 
 
  Four-mile stretch of Little Tennessee Greenway opens
By Beth Seay

The results of a collaboration between government, private industry and the general public came to fruition when the Little Tennessee River Greenway in Franklin opened this past Saturday (May 11).

The Greenway is a nearly-four-mile trail that stretches from the Suli Marsh area near Lake Emory to the site of a planned amphitheater, the Nikwasi Center, south of Franklin.

A celebration was held at the Big Bear Shelter, near the center of Franklin, on Saturday morning with politicians, representatives from Duke Power and members of FROGs (Friends of the Greenway) — the volunteer group behind the trail — in attendance. An all-day celebration followed at several sites along the greenway, including bluegrass bands, a scavenger hunt and wildflower walks.

Speaking during the dedication ceremony, Duke Power’s Ed Tucker said, “The greenway is a community effort. We at the power company are glad to have had some part in it.”

Tucker, who was instrumental in the development of the greenway, discussed the history of the project, beginning with the planning of a power transmission line across Franklin.

“It became clear,” Tucker said, “that the easiest and best location for the line was along the river.”

The idea was presented to grant public access along the corridor for the greenway, and the “people at the company got behind the effort,” said Tucker. What really made the trail happen though, he explained was the support of the Franklin Board of Alderman and the Macon County Commissioners, as well as “partnerships with the Army Corps of Engineers, the TVA, business leaders and volunteers from the general public.” He said the greenway received one of the largest grants from the state through the Clean Water Trust Fund.

“If a community gets behind an effort and works as partners, you can do tremendous things in a relatively short time,” concluded Tucker.

Harold Corbin, chairman of the Macon County Commissioners, recognized some of those in attendance, including Sen. Dan Robinson, Sen. Bob Carpenter and Rep. Roger West. He defended the expense of the Greenway project, saying that while Macon County has fine recreation park facilities, “not everybody plays ball,” and though there are lots of hiking trails nearby, “not everybody can get to them.”

“The Greenway is something everybody can enjoy,” said Corbin.

Hank Shuler, president of FROGs, recognized the many volunteers, business contributors and local organizations who worked towards completion of the Greenway project. She discussed the vision for the future of the Greenway, including boat landings and extending the trail from the Georgia line all the way to Fontana Dam.

The trail is built along the site of an ancient trading path used by the Cherokee. That history has been recognized in the naming of sections of the trail and the picnic shelters found along the way. The Suli Marsh marks the northern trailhead, off Arthur Drake Road, and takes its name from the Cherokee word for buzzard. The trail continues along Morris Trace, leading south from Suli, and named for the early settler Gideon Morris. Morris and his wife, Rebecca (niece of Cherokee chief Yonaguska), owned a tract of land that would now include most of East Franklin.

Morris Trace leads to the Big Bear shelter and park area, off East Main Street. Big Bear takes its name from Cherokee chief Yanegwa. The shelter is near the Nikwasi Mound. A bridge is planned along this point in the trail, the Walasi Bridge. This early steel bridge from Polk County will be installed south of East Main Street but is not currently in place. The trail continues along the Old Airport section, through the bottomland that was the site of the first Macon County Airport. Walkers can enter the Old Airport section of the trail through Salali Lane, from Foxridge Road off the Highlands Road (near the flea market).

The trail continues to the Tassee Bridge, named for a Cherokee village that was located nearby, following along to the Tassee shelter and parking area, providing another access area to the Greenway. From Tassee, the trail continues as the Tallulah Falls Railroad Trail, following the old railroad bed from Tassee to the Nickajack Bridge. This steel bridge was moved from its original site on the Cullasaja River at Nickajack Creek.

Finally, Trader’s Path follows the river to the planned Nikwasi Center, which will be the site of an open-air amphitheater. The amphitheater and further extension of the trail will be completed during phase two of development, with the trail continuing to the Macon County Recreation Park. Currently the trail’s terminus is the Nonah Bridge at the end of Trader’s Path. Future plans also include a playground, visitor’s center, and boardwalks for the Suli Marsh and Otter Pond area (off the Old Airport trail).

Motorized vehicles are prohibited on the Greenway, though bicycles and rollerbladers are welcomed. Pets are allowed, on leashes. Picnic shelters at Big Bear and Tassee may be reserved for special occasions and have public restrooms available. An activity guide for children and a guide to the natural history of the trail may be purchased from the Franklin Area Chamber of Commerce or the Macon County Historical Society.