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Hi-Lo Trail making funding, construction progress
Mary Charles Howard
Mary Charles Howard, founder and director of Georgia Hi-Lo Trail, Inc., gave an update of the trail’s funding and progress to the Effingham County Rotary Club at its regular meeting Jan. 9 at the Herald Center. (Photos by Barbara Augsdorfer/Effingham Herald.)

By Barbara Augsdorfer, editor for the Effingham Herald

Mary Charles Howard, the founder and director of the Georgia Hi-Lo Trail, admits the project is a slow process, but after only five years of existence, the project has received a fair amount of funding, seen a groundbreaking, and has all eight counties on board. When completed the trail will be the longest paved trail in the United States at more than 200 miles from Greene County to Chatham County, with approximately 12 miles passing through Guyton.

The “Treutlen Trail” section of the Hi-Lo Trail in Effingham County will connect the Guyton walking trail with Pineora Park, Sandhill Elementary, and the future Atlas Park.

In February 2023, Effingham County was awarded a $200,000 Safe Streets for All federal grant.

“Effingham County is already taking ownership of its section of the trail,” Howard said.

Rather than being a bike lane on the side of a busy road, the Hi-Lo Trail will be a paved trail off busy streets so families can ride or walk together without having to worry about being hit by vehicles.

And while the organization is making progress, it’s not going to be quick or cheap. Organizers have already stated in their comprehensive plan that the anticipated finish

Mary Charles Howard and Elizabeth Waters
Mary Charles Howard stands with Effingham County Rotary President Elizabeth Waters after the weekly Rotary meeting Jan. 9.
date is 2050 for the entire trail and the cost can be as high as $1.5 million per mile. Of course sections could be finished and opened for use much sooner than 2050.

While the Hi-Lo Trail is actively applying for grants, any and all donations are accepted.

That’s one reason the Hi-Lo Trail is being built by sections with individual counties taking ownership or the lead in constructing their segments of the trail.

Then there is the “If you build it, they will come” factor.

“If we build a place where people want to visit, then we build a place where people want to live. If we build a place where people want to live, then we build a place where people want to work,” Howard explained. “And if we build a place where people want to work, then we build a place where business has to be."

Howard added that a trail supports the local economy of rural Georgia cities and towns by bringing people in and “We don't have that brain drain anymore,” meaning people living in rural areas having to commute to nearby cities for employment.

“Effingham County has the biggest push behind it right now. We just applied for a DNR (Department of Natural Resources) funding -- almost $3 million -- to get started in Effingham County,” Howard said. “We hope to hear back (in) February, if we're in the finals for that.”

For more information about the Georgia Hi-Lo Trail, to read its comprehensive plan, to volunteer or donate, click on www.georgiahilo.org.