Have you ever wanted to just hop on your bike and ride it down an abandoned railroad to Union Point?

If so, you can make it happen. Athens residents have been working for several years to convert the old Georgia Railroad into a walking and bike trail, but funding has been scarce. Now, the IRS has granted nonprofit status to The Firefly Trail Inc. so it can accept tax-deductible donations from the community.

“The recognition of Firefly Trail, Inc.  as a non-profit by the IRS is a great step forward for our organization,” said John Stephens, chairman of the non-profit’s board and mayor of Maxeys, one of the towns on the proposed trail’s route.

“While we have a number of dedicated supporters, this recognition will allow additional individuals, businesses, and other entities to make a tax-deductible contributions to help the Firefly Trail become a reality. The trail is a long-term project, and this is a significant event as it allows donations of monies, services, and rights-of-way, to name a few items that will be necessary for the completion of this project.”

The abandoned Athens Spur of the Georgia Railroad stretches 39 miles from East Broad Street in Athens to downtown Union Point. Working in conjunction with governments, business and individuals along the route, the board’s vision is to create a continuous, off-road path for bicycling, walking, horseback riding and other non-motorized activities.

“Rail-trails are extremely popular across the nation,” Stephens said. “Not only do they help improve the health and pride of their local communities, long trails like the Firefly attract significant tourist traffic and generate substantial economic impact. The old Georgia Railroad corridor provides a highly attractive, level route through friendly towns and beautiful farmland, as well as a fascinating glimpse into our area’s rich history. We think it will have national appeal.”

The non-profit board currently is working to build support for the trail, which connects Athens-Clarke, Oglethorpe and Greene counties. Next steps include property inventory and working with city and county governments along the route to determine which segments can be developed first.

If and when it's completed, Firefly Trail would tie into an Athens-Clarke County SPLOST-funded rails-to-trails project from the new park-and-ride lot on Oconee Street to Dudley Park, where it would in turn tie in with the North Oconee River Greenway, as well.

To get involved, contact [email protected] or visit the Firefly Trail on Facebook.