A Bike Trail for St. Marys

There is talk of a new bike trail that would connect two of my favorite places, Crooked River State Park and St. Marys waterfront. The 11 mile trail seems like a natural connection according to the Terry Landreth, owner of Camden Bicycle Center with his wife Darlene and member of the Georgia Coast Rail Trail board. As one who used to ride a bicycle to Crooked River Elementary, near where the sidewalk on that side of the street currently ends, and also a place you’d pass on the trail, I agree it wouldn't take much work to extend a trail between the state park and the downtown waterfront park. It is a nice ride. The tabby ruins across from the main gate of the sub base are a cool and shady stopping spot on hot days and I think, like the Landreths, it would be a great place for a trailhead and restrooms. Next comes what the grandkids in our family like to call Poppa’s submarine, the Bancroft, mostly concrete with the original submarine conning tower in front of the sub base’s construction gate. It is a pretty good photo op stop if you are taking a break during your ride. Crossing Highway 40 the trail would continue down Borrell Boulevard and eventually Dilworth to the downtown waterfront. Bicycle Ride Across Georgia, a group of cyclists that make an annual ride have come to St. Marys a couple of times and the 50 to 80 riders and their supporters have been positive influence on the city’s economy. A bike trail would keep them coming back. The 80,000 yearly state park visitors, the residents from the 650 homes along the trail, and my grandkids and I would have a nice place to ride bikes and enjoy the outdoors too.