Friends Of The Tennessee Central Rail Trail Reactivating Non-Profit

Community group Friends of the Tennessee Central Rail Trail has been reactivated after going inactive several years ago.

Member Charles Womack said about 30 people from across the county attended an interest meeting to help start the process. He said they elected officers, and are now taking the next steps to help get funding for rail trail needs.

“Say it’s in Putnam County and we need to help Putnam County pay a portion out in the area or out in Baxter in that area,” Womack said. “So that’s our main purpose is to support the rail trail, primarily with getting enthusiasm and raising funds to expand the rail trail”

Womack said he is not surprised about the renewed interest in the rail trail. He said cellphone data collected by the Central Rail Trail Authority Board indicates that many people are using and enjoying the trail. Womack said Tennessee Tech is also utilizing that data to help inform a plan for expansion.

Womack said the next steps will be to reactivate the official 501c3 and begin fundraising efforts.