Within the year, residents will be able to use the first leg of the Sugar Hill Greenway (sometimes referred to as the Sugar Loop Greenway), a roughly 16-mile loop trail that is under construction, and see progress at one of the parks that will serve as a trailhead.
The 9.2-acre Gold Mine Park sits along Level Creek Road, within a mile of City Hall, backing up to both E.E. Robinson parks, according to Paul Radford, city manager.
The park, which has a name harkening back to the city's history of gold mining, should be completed within two years.
"The property itself has a lot of historical significance. It's not far down the road from the oldest house in Sugar Hill," said Radford.
"Some of the initial settlers here were doing a lot of gold mining. Obviously, Dahlonega's more famous for that, but there was gold mining here — all the way down to the (Chattahoochee) River."
As the trail is completed, Radford said there will be access to it — and a small parking area — at Gold Mine Park, even if the park itself will remain under construction.
City leaders recently met with project consultants, and Radford said grading has begun.
"It will be part of this year's efforts of building the first segment of the trail itself," said Radford.
City council is expected to get an update on the plans at its work session Monday.
