GAINESVILLE – One member of the Gainesville-Hall Metropolitan Planning Organization had given considerable forethought to which option he favored: Gainesville Mayor Danny Dunagan, who sits on the Policy Committee, said he knew which logo and name the Hall County Trails Network should adopt.
The City of Gainesville has already completed much of their involvement in the trails enterprise: the Midtown Greenway opened over three years ago, Wilshire Trails and the Rock Creek Greenway are also part of the system, and Dunagan has been a part of the process.
So Dunagan has had opportunity to mull his options. “I already got my mind made up,” Dunagan said to fellow board members.
Phil Bonelli displayed six options on the overhead monitor for consideration by the GHMPO Policy Committee. Bonelli is part of the Vision 2030 Greenspace Committee, and they want to begin promoting the trail system soon.
“We thought it was very important to have an overall name and brand,” Bonelli explained to the Committee, “to make maps possible and to allow for the promotion of this and… the raising of some private money to help with the completion.”
Work is nearly completed on another major segment of the trail system paralleling Atlanta Highway from the shared campuses of UNG Gainesville and Lanier Tech to Palmour Drive near the Gainesville Airport, and Bonellli said the time for naming the trail system had arrived.
“We’re looking at a completion day around September 30th,” said Jody Woodall, Hall County Road Projects Manager. Plans include an invitation to Governor Nathan Deal to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new trail.
The three names on either of two different logo backgrounds displayed for the Committee’s consideration were: Foothills Trail, Foothills Greenway and Highlands to Islands.
“I like Highlands to Islands,” Mayor Dunagan offered.
Flowery Branch City Council woman Mary Jones agreed. “I’m good with the Highlands to the Islands,” she said as an informal second to Dunagan’s motion.
Policy Committee Chairman and Oakwood City Mayor Lamar Scroggs called for a vote; the selection was unanimous. "Highlands to Islands" is another jewel for Hall County to enjoy.
