Megan Miller
Cumberland Times-News
Oakland — OAKLAND — Advocates for construction of a Garrett County trail system have received major funding support in the form of a $30,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission.
The funds will go toward planning efforts for a countywide trail network, approximately 150 miles long, that will connect many of the county’s towns to the Great Allegheny Passage.
“Back in 2002 there was a master recreational trail plan done,” said Paige Teegarden, spokeswoman for the nonprofit volunteer organization Garrett Trails. “Last year we took a look at that plan and said, so how can we tie some of these different ideas together into a whole that takes advantage of the environment today?”
Teegarden said the project, with the working title “Garrett Loop,” will connect to the Passage and create a “spine of good trails” suitable for hybrid bikes to ride throughout the county.
Though the loop’s exact route hasn’t been established, it will run roughly from Meyersdale, Pa., to Grantsville, to Deep Creek Lake, and through Mountain Lake Park, Oakland and Friendsville.
Garrett Trails Vice President Mike Dreisbach said in May that he believes the project could bring a major economic boost to the county.
“It’s an expensive trail … but at the same time, if you look at the impact of the Great Allegheny Passage, this trail could be easily a $75 (million) to $100 million-per-year tourism generator,” he said.
It would also give county residents the option to travel from point to point by trail instead of highway, Teegarden said.
The ARC grant, announced July 6, will fund preliminary planning for trail routes and investigation of property ownership, she said. In addition to ARC funds, Garrett Trails will provide $20,000 and Maryland Program Open Space will provide $10,000.
Teegarden said she hopes grant money will be available for construction to begin on some segments as early as 2011.
The ARC grant award was announced by the offices of U.S. Sens. Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin.
“Garrett County is one of Maryland’s top tourist destinations and strengthening its trail system will make it even more attractive to visitors,” Cardin said in a prepared statement. “Garrett County has more publicly owned land than any other in the state and this funding will strengthen Mountain Maryland by connecting the Great Allegheny Passage to the growing network of trails in Garrett County.”
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