A 211-mile trail from Athens to Savannah will soon break ground. Here are the first steps

The official groundbreaking for the 211-mile trail from Athens to Savannah is 11 a.m. Saturday at 1200 Bartow Road in Sandersville.

The celebration will take place following the annual Sandersville Sizzler 5K Trail Run and MTB Race . This public ceremony event marks the start of construction on what will become the longest paved trail in the United States.

“Getting to this day has been a big lift,” said Mitch Sheppard, Board President for Georgia Hi-Lo Trail,Inc, in a press release. “We have been fortunate to earn support from amazing partners that have helped move thisambitious project forward. Greta deMayo and her team have helped us realize the dreams of Hi-Lo Founder, Mary Charles Howard.”

The first phase of the project, the Washington County Model Project, will cover a 2.2-mile segment within Forest Grove Preserve, a site recognized as a Georgia Centennial Farm and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The trail in Athens will connect to the 39-mile long Firefly Trail.

“We see how trails promote community prosperity and wellness – from spurring economic development and offeringalternative transportation options to creating safe, peaceful greenspaces that nurture physical and emotional health," said Greta deMayo, Executive Director of PATH Foundation, in a press release. "We’re excited to join Georgia Hi-Lo and are with them for the long haul as they embark on this this ambitious journey over the next three decades.”

Key features

• The trail will be the longest arboretum in the U.S.
• Initial segment: Ridge Road Elementary, located north of Forest Grove Preserve.
• Endpoint: southern end of Forest Grove Preserve.

Future developments are planned for Greene Hancock, Johnson, Emanuel, Bulloch, Effingham, and Chatham Counties. The detailed plan, created in collaboration with the nonprofit Path Foundation, is available on GeorgiaHiLo.org .

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: A 211-mile trail from Athens to Savannah will soon break ground. Here are the first steps