GARLAND MOUNTAIN
HORSE & HIKE TRAILS PROJECT
1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY!

A lot has happened since October 7, 2007 when Cherokee County (CC) partnered with Cherokee County Saddle Club (CCSC) for construction of the Garland Mountain Horse & Hike Trails (GMHHT) on the County owned green space at Garland Mountain, Waleska, GA.

It all began one day in late January of 2007 when Cindy Young, resident of Waleska, avid horsewoman, and CCSC member, read an article where Cherokee County Commissioner Harry Johnston said that “Cherokee County has a modest program to buy and protect green space before it is all gone”. In the article he said they had purchased “one large wilderness tract at the top of Garland Mountain” and Cindy, decided to see if she could get the local community involved. She spread the word, got a petition signed and along with then CCSC President, Marianne Torchia, met with County Manager Jerry Cooper. He was intrigued with the idea of a public horse and hiker park and took it to the County Commission and the project was finally approved on October 7, 2007. Cindy is on the GMHHT Committee as Volunteer Coordinator. CCSC assembled a GMHHT Committee of 5 which began working with Cherokee Recreation and Parks Agency (CRPA) to start design and installation of the Trails. Each Committee member brings a valuable expertise to the table to help professionally install this public park.

The 13 mile public horse and hiker green space Trails, owned by the County, will be the first of its kind in Cherokee County. The Garland Mountain Green Space was purchased in late 2005 by Cherokee County through Green Space SPLOST Funds. The County has approved $50,000 of its green space funds for the project and has applied for a $75,000 grant from the Georgia DNR Recreational Trails Program for the construction of the ADA compliant trailhead parking area, restrooms, signage and the purchase of trail building equipment. Cherokee County Green Space property can only be used for passive recreation such as trails for hiking, horse back riding, biking, and pavilions picnic tables. No motorized vehicles, ball fields or non-passive activities are allowed. Green Space property is investment in our preservation of nature because it can never be developed for commercial or residential use. Cherokee County has two other tracts of dedicated green space that will probably be developed within the next 24 months. Both tracts will be used primarily for walking and hiking trails with a pavilion and picnic tables.

The Trails will be constructed with 100% volunteer time and donated machinery coordinated by CCSC. The initial phase, which will encompass about 5 1/2 miles of trails, the parking area with restroom facilities, information kiosk and trail head is expected to be completed by the Spring of 2009. CCSC hosts public work days the second Saturday of each month. If you would like to help on a work day contact Cindy Young at Cdingodog1@aol.com.