Mission & Goals

Mission

The Bulloch Greenways Partnership (BGP) is committed to the development of a network of greenways that will provide Bulloch County residents with convenient access to opportunities for walking, bicycling, jogging and other non-motorized recreation activities.

Goals and Objectives

The following goals and numbered objectives serve to support and specify the mission statement. They have been approved by the BGP and are the basis for the development of the greenways network plan for Bulloch County. The goals are not listed in priority order.

Goal A: Greenway corridors will improve opportunities for close-to-home recreation in Bulloch County

1. Provide greenway access to a variety of users, including walkers, joggers,
bicyclists, horseback riders, skaters, wheelchair users, and other non-motorized recreationists;
2. Establish greenways as safe linkages between schools, colleges, and parks and recreation facilities;
3. Provide greenways that are accessible to places where most people live in the County.

Goal B: Greenway corridors will improve the quality of life for Bulloch County residents

1. Provide opportunities for fitness and wellness activities to promote health and physical well-being;
2. Provide greenways as places for community events;
3. Promote greenways as a community "main street" where residents may greet one another in pleasant surroundings;
4. Soften the negative impacts of heavily-used roadways through the development of greenways as natural buffers.

Goal C: Greenway corridors will provide alternative transportation opportunities for residents and visitors to Bulloch County

1. Provide greenways as safe linkages between neighborhoods, businesses, schools, colleges, and shopping areas within the County;
2. Promote bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly land use patterns in the County;
3. Establish on- and off-road greenway corridors to maximize alternative transportation opportunities;
4. Coordinate greenway development with state and local transportation agencies and projects;
5. Work with the Georgia DOT to incorporate bicycle and pedestrian facilities into future roadway maintenance and improvement projects;
6. Protect existing roadway rights, per Georgia statutes and federal laws and regulations, for bicyclists and pedestrians;
7. Educate the public about existing roadway rights, per Georgia statutes and federal laws and regulations, for bicyclists and pedestrians.

Goal D: Greenway corridors will improve the economic health of Bulloch County

1. Increase the value of nearby residential, commercial, and industrial properties through greenway development;
2. Provide greenways as magnets for businesses seeking to relocate;
3. Establish greenways as tourist destinations;
4. Provide opportunities for economic growth through the creation of trail-related businesses (such as bike rental shops, restaurants, and lodging);
5. Promote the efficient use of existing resources by developing greenways within utility rights-of-way.

Goal E: Greenway corridors will conserve plant and wildlife habitat and educate visitors on environmental issues in the Bulloch County area. Working in partnership with civic organizations, public agencies, businesses, and schools:

1. Restore degraded watersheds, provide streambank/drainage stabilization, and improve water quality;
2. Protect, restore, and maintain environmentally sensitive lands to support plant and animal habitat;
3. Promote the use of native vegetation in greenway development;
4. Provide interpretive signage along some greenways to highlight the natural features of the area;
5. Protect and enhance the County's scenic beauty and encourage responsible environmental behavior.

Goal F: Greenway corridors will connect to a regional network of recreation and transportation routes

1. Establish greenways as connections between the County and regional attractions such as state parks and historic sites in adjacent counties;
2. Restore and revitalize regionally historic transportation corridors (such as abandoned railroad lines) as greenways.

Adopted as amended on April 2, 2002 by the Plan Steering Committee of the BGP.