Macon County Board of Commissioners have laid the groundwork for a formal partnership with the Friends of the Greenway (FROGS).

George Sweet, speaking on behalf of the FROGS, told commissioners the six-mile Little Tennessee Greenway and Restoration project along the river from Lake Emory to the Macon County recreation park was beginning to take shape and many issues needed to be addressed. He said abutments were presently being installed and bridges might be in place as early as this fall.

Sweet said a coherent plan needs to be created to deal with issues such as landscaping, food vendors, commercial ventures such as bike and/or canoe rentals and management of the environment. He asked that the FROGS be appointed to represent the county and work collaboratively with the board, county manager, county attorney and town of Franklin in the development and management of the Little Tennessee Greenway and Restoration project.

Chairman Harold Corbin said he knew of no organization in Macon County better suited for the undertaking.

“I’m in favor of letting the Friends take the ball and run with it,” Corbin said. “This is something I want to see move ahead.”

County Manager Sam Greenwood said the board would have to establish a formal structure for such a partnership. The board appointed commissioner Janet Greene to work as liaison between the FROGS, Greenwood and county attorney Richard Long.

During the meeting, Greenwood also asked for the board’s support in joining with the Teaching Learning Network to feature the greenway on its Emmy-winning public television series, “Trailside: Make Your Own Adventure.” He told commissioners the network’s executive board had approved the offer of a contract for a nationally televised segment on the greenway.

The budget for the episode is $425,000. Greenwood said the FROGS would have to raise $60,000 in local funds to secure the project. The money could be raised through sponsorships and/or in-kind services.

While the PBS segment received unanimous board support, Hank Shuler, FROGS chairwoman, had a different response. She told The Franklin Press, “It’s the feeling of the Friends of the Greenway that $60,000 might be better spent on improvements to the trail. If we had lots and lots of money it would be OK. We just didn’t see what return there could be to us for this kind of money.”

However, in a phone interview Monday June 25, Greenwood said the TV segment was still a viable option. He said Shuler had talked to other FROG board members and decided to revisit the issue.

 

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The Smoky Mountain News