Blue Trail to wind along Waccamaw
Last Updated on 5/30/2012
Published on 8/2/2009
By Kelly Marshall Fuller
Kfuller@thegtowntimes.com
Efforts kicked off this week to get the community involved in building a winding, 100-mile paddling trail down the Waccamaw River.
Meanwhile, local leaders hope that historical trails planned for other parts of Georgetown County will eventually link with the Blue Trail.
There are plans to put a kayak and canoe launching site at Morgan Park, which will lead people from the Blue Trail to downtown Georgetown and the proposed Francis Marion Historic Trail.
"I think it's important for us to work together,'' said Keith Wilson, director of Keep Georgetown Beautiful. "It's laying a foundation for what we're doing in the future.''
"If we're able to link in East Bay Park and Morgan Park across the marsh, that will help get people down to visit our area and go downtown and visit our area,'' Wilson said. "They can get in their canoe and come here to enjoy the day. As we put our trail system here, we can get folks from Charleston, Myrtle Beach and Florence to come here.''
The Blue Trail will promote the idea of eco-tourism and seek to draw people who want to take multi-day trips down the river.
The idea for the Blue Trail came about last year, when preservationists were looking for a way to showcase the river and conserve natural resources.
Volunteers are needed to put up signs and participate in adopt-a-landing programs throughout the area, said Blue Trail organizer Staci Williams.
Meetings are being held to encourage people to volunteer for the Blue Trail programs.
"We're hoping to have signage along the trail,'' Williams said. "These meetings are helping to get the word out about why we need to protect the land along the river.''
The Francis Marion trail is in the planning stages, Wilson said.
An archaeological survey has been done to determine what Revolutionary War battles Marion led in the area, Wilson said.
The Gullah-Geechee Heritage Trail is also being planned for parts of North Carolina, Florida and Georgia.
Blue Trail organizers have also met with leaders of Bike the Neck, Conway Bike and Hike and Paddle and the Horry County Parks and Open Space Board, Williams said.
"Eco-tourism is a really booming,'' Williams said. "We're using recreation to facilitate protection of the river and the areas around it, and to tie in the economic piece with the environmental piece.''
Blue Trail organizers will meet with the community at noon today at Applewood Pancake House in Litchfield. Volunteer programs are available to help form the Blue Trail, a paddling route down the Waccamaw River.
Blue Trail will provide path to other historic paths, organizers say.
