Members from the city of Newnan and Friends of LINC official open the LINC Friday afternoon. From left are Jim Quals, Cleatus Phillips, Parks Avery, Rhodes Shell, Keith Brady, Brent Snodgrass, Deb Kalish, Chris Doane, Ray DuBose, Cynthia Jenkins, Paul Guillaume, Isabel Hair, Jim Thomasson, Jean Wyant, Clay Neely, Sandy Wisenbaker, Dustin Koritko and Steve Mapel.

The first section of the proposed 25-mile multi-use LINC trail system is officially open.



A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Friday afternoon to signal the opening of the LINC.

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City staff and supporters filled the path near “Cleatus Creek” to officially declare the path open to the public.

The 1.9-mile connection links Newnan Crossing Boulevard to the Nixon Centre, Newnan Crossing Elementary School, and the residential neighborhoods along Highwoods Parkway and Shenandoah Boulevard.

The ribbon cutting event provided an opportunity for elected officials, as well as city and county staff, to get a “sneak peek” of the LINC, meet with Friends of LINC Board members, and ask any questions they may have about construction, funding, or future plans.

Mayor Keith Brady heralded the LINC project as a tremendous grassroots effort between the city and the public.

“It truly came from the community, and this was one of those ideas that will live on,” Brady said. “Friends of LINC is a huge reason why we’re here today.”

Jim Thomasson, vice president for Friends of LINC and one of the original creators of the linear park, said the project is a great example of the community working together to implement a quality of life initiative that will carry on for generations to come.

“It’s a reminder of when hard work intersects with a great idea, great things can happen,” Thomasson said. “This ribbon cutting is the proof of the power of a public-private partnership.”

Jonathan McCaig of the PATH Foundation noted the responsiveness of Newnan staff and the very compressed construction timeframe.

Kim Learnard, Director of Friends of LINC, said she enjoyed meeting all the people who came together to envision and create this very impressive linear park.

“It is the LINC that will bridge the physical divides of railroad tracks and interstates throughout our community, promote health and wellness, and spur future economic development,” Learnard said.

A grand opening celebration – “Ready, Set, LINC” – is open to the public and currently scheduled for May 4.