The end of the line is in sight for the Tweetsie Trail.
Project leaders expect that the 10-mile walking and biking trail from Johnson City to Elizabethton could be completed by this Labor Day.
And they are asking for the public’s assistance to help make it happen.
A fundraising effort is underway to collect the $50,000 needed to finish the trail from Holly Lane to where the trail will end near Snap-On Tools on Stateline Road, trail task force member Ken Gough told the Downtown Business Association Thursday morning.
Construction on the trail progressed faster than the plans originally called for, and now the 10-mile path is expected to be completed in two phases instead of three. The original plans broke the trail down into three parts: from Johnson City to Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park, from the park to downtown Elizabethton and from there to the end of the trail at Snap-On.
Instead, crews were able to finish up to Holly Lane in front of Pal’s in the first phase, which was completed during the summer of 2014 with a grand opening ceremony held on Labor Day of last year.
All that remains to be completed is the 2.7-mile stretch starting at Holly Lane.
“The Tweetsie Trail has been really successful, much more so than we even expected,” Gough said. “It is time to finish it up. We can finish it with your help.”
The Tweetsie Trail Taskforce has started a fundraising campaign to collect the remaining funds necessary to finish the trail and some funds have already been collected, Gough said.
“We are well on our way, but we still have a long way to go,” he said. “The first phase was completed using only local money, and it was finished early. It is amazing what we have accomplished. We believe we can easily finish the remaining portion if we get the money.”
Work on the final section is expected to begin in the next few weeks, Gough said. Along with the trail construction, signs and shade trees will be installed along the trail. The future plans also call for the Elizabethton trail head to be designed and built.
Donations can be made online at www.tweetsietrail.com or by mail to: Attn: Janet Jennings, Tweetsie Trail Fund – COJC P.O. Box 2150, Johnson City, Tenn. 37605-2150. Make checks payable to the Tweetsie Trail Fund — COJC.