No Child Of Any Age
Left Inside
Kids aren’t the only ones who love fresh air. We all thrive on sunshine, forward motion, and a sense of freedom. The Southern Appalachian Greenways Alliance offers a safe and scenic environment for citizens to:
- Go for a walk with two- or four-legged friends
- Ride a bicycle to work or school
- Explore the natural environment
- Preserve and protect healthy ecosystems
Greenways facilitate connection to the environment and to each other, helping people get out of their cars and breathe fresh air again. Verdant landscapes become more alluring than video games, and our children thrive alongside us.
The Southern Appalachian Greenways Alliance is a group of excited and motivated individuals who believe in connecting people, communities, and places by being advocates for change.
The Department of Environment and Conservation's Greenways and Trails Forum '09 at ETSU was a great success. For three days over 100 participants from across the Tennessee and other states heard nationally known speakers, participated in workshops, learned about grant funding sources, and took field trips to area greenways and trails. The featured speaker, Dan Burden (visit his website) spkoke about ways in which we can make our world more walkable and bike friendly. He also led a walking audit of Johnson City that took a close look at the city's transportation and urban needs. The gathering was hosted by the city of Johnson City in cooperation with the Southern Appalachian Greenways Alliance. Check back for pictures of this event soon.
SAGA Board Members Lobby in Washington for Greenways and Trails
A number of SAGA board members traveled to Washington, DC in late February to visit with Senator Alexander, Senator Corker, and Representative Roe and their staffs to encourage continued funding for civic and rural greenways and trails, historic trails, and conservation projects. In our discussions we discussed the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, the Tweetsie Rail-to-Trail Project, RockyFork Wilderness Area, and other projects which we believe are investments in a better region.
What Does SAGA Do?
We provide support, advocacy, and technical assistance for efforts to plan, develop, and maintain greenways and trails throughout Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.
Some of our highest priorities include:
- Preserving scenic landscapes and open spaces
- Providing transportation alternatives
- Stimulating local economies through geotourism and business development
- Encouraging healthy lifestyles through recreation and fitness opportunities
- Fostering a sense of community among diverse groups and across generations
Click here to view a presentation of the goals and objectives of our work
Where Does SAGA Work?
SAGA offers its services to numerous counties throughout Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.
- In Tennessee: Carter, Greene, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington counties
- In Virginia: Lee, Scott, & Washington counties
- SAGA Regional Plan (.pdf 12.5MB)
Why Are Greenways So Important?
There are many reasons to create and maintain greenways and trails in our region. The unique combination of economic growth and environmental sustainability make greenways and trails an intelligent and responsible investment, as demonstrated by:
- Gateway Communities
We can increase geotourism in local communities by connecting Southwest Virginia with Northwest Tennessee through establishing an extensive recreational thoroughfare, attracting both local visitors and tourists from other regions of the country. Lodging and food resources would be necessary to accommodate the influx of bikers, hikers, bird watchers, and nature lovers, thus further supporting local economies. To learn more about the long-term economic impact of this type of investment, see: Virginia Creeper Trail: An Assessment of User Demographics, Preferences, and Economics, 2004.
- Quality of Life
We can make a good thing even better. Citizens of our region enjoy abundant natural resources. Building an interconnected trail system would provide greater opportunities for exercise and recreation. Furthermore, as quality of life increases, health care costs drop.
- Industrial Recruitment
Corporations find it more attractive to locate in a region that supports its citizens in their pursuit of a healthy, active lifestyle. This decreases the cost of employee health insurance, and the citizens themselves benefit from more than simply making intelligent decisions regarding their own health and happiness.
By partnering with local governments, agencies, and non-profit organizations we can effect dramatic change throughout Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. Our vision can be achieved through working with local communities, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the National Forest Service, the National Park Service, the Appalachian Regional Commission, First Tennessee Development, Black Diamond Development District, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, the Trust for Public Land, and others. While this is a bold proposal requiring widespread cooperation and effort, there will be immeasurable benefit in considering the quality of life for us and for future generations.
