Page 37 - Columbus NCG 2020

Dragonfly According to Becca Zajac, Executive Director for communities within Columbus. Zajac
said interaction between users of the trails
of Dragonfly Trails and the organization’s first
Trails Take employee, the ultimate goal is to have more will allow a greater sense of community to
than 70 miles of 10-foot-wide paved, multi-
develop throughout Columbus.
Another use trails that safely connect outlying areas “Our paths are not just for recreation; they’re
of Columbus to the RiverWalk in Uptown.
Big Step Entering 2020, there were 30 miles of multi-use for a reason,” Zajac says. “We’re
constantly thinking about the needs for our
multi-use pathways already developed with community and how we can improve the lives
by Andrew Smith 36.7 additional miles proposed or under of all of our citizens.

construction. While there are no motorized
vehicles permitted on the trails, citizens “We’re not only building paths that are safe
and visitors enjoy walking, casual biking, and protected from traffic, we’re beautifying
cycling, rollerblading, skateboarding, and areas of our community, with landscaping and
other activities. art installations,” she adds. “We’re inviting the
community to engage and connect with each
The Dragonfly Trails concept originated other in these public spaces.”
from the success of the Columbus RiverWalk
development in the mid-1990s. Area Organizers and backers also anticipate
leaders pushed for a citywide investment economic development along the trails, much
to construct trails around Columbus by like Atlanta has experienced with its Beltline
converting abandoned railroad tracks into project. Having more leisure activities,
multi-use pathways for citizens to enjoy. restaurants, and things to do adjacent to
the trails will help with the attraction and
As the number of paved trails slowly grew, so
retention of talented young professionals in
did the need for a master plan and a vision
the workforce, Zajac says.
to connect each pathway to the greater
network. By 2017, the network needed to “One of the qualities young professionals
choose a name, settling on Dragonfly Trails, are looking for is an active, connected
which is a nod to the city’s efforts to clean up community,” Zajac says. “People are looking
the Chattahoochee River, as dragonflies are for pathways to walk or ride from place to
an indicator species for clean water. place and not use a car. It’s an asset people
want to have in a community they’re moving
Now, armed with a master plan and an
to and Columbus has to have those assets in
executive director, Dragonfly Trails will
place to attract and retain people.”
be able to further path development with
a clear vision and direction. Besides trail One of the other accomplishments of the
construction and improvements to existing trail development that is less tangible is the
paths, the organization will spearhead the collaborative spirit entities have shown over
development of a website and trail app, the years.
gather trail-use data, organize community
events, procure art installations, and “If you walk around Columbus and look at our
he highly publicized Dragonfly Trail fundraise for future trail development. major assets, they exist because everyone
System took another step forward works together,” Zajac says. “It’s not for
T in 2019. After years of planning and Besides the obvious impact of providing our own individual or organization needs
constructive recreational opportunities and
construction on citywide pathways, trail – ultimately the question everyone asks is
promoting healthy lifestyles, the trails serve ‘does it make our community better?’”
organizers officially started a non-profit,
as non-motorized transportation routes for
Dragonfly Trails, Inc., to help manage, devel- residents traveling to and from work, school, The answer for Dragonfly Trails is a
op, and promote the trail network. or shopping as well as connective pathways resounding yes.

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