John Gentry

Staff Photo by John Rawlston McMinn County planner Russell Thress looks at a trestle over Middle Creek along a stretch of abandoned railroad line on Tuesday. This six-mile section of abandoned line between Athens and Englewood is being advocated conversion to a multi-use trail.

ATHENS, Tenn. — McMinn County Mayor John Gentry has been watching the railroad corridor between Englewood and Athens for some time now, and he’s sure there’s hidden treasure under its wooden ties and metal rails.

As CSX Transportation Inc. petitions the federal Surface Transportation Board for permission to abandon its line along that 6.4-mile piece of track, Mr. Gentry is looking to turn the land underneath it into a tourist-drawing, obesity-fighting, spirit-lifting trail for his community.

“All of us living here have noticed that the traffic on that line has decreased over the past several years, and we had had our eyes on that possibly becoming a ‘rails-to-trails’ project,” he said.

Rails-to-trails conversions have occurred across the country since Congress authorized them in 1983. But there have been few such opportunities in Tennessee, said Kathleen Williams, president and director of the Tennessee Parks and Greenways Foundation.

“It’s just a fantastic opportunity,” Ms. Williams said, noting that the only other active rails-to-trails project in the state is in Memphis. “Some organizations will work for years to try to put together a linear corridor that you can pick up with one acquisition.”

McMinn officials are hoping it won’t take quite that long.

CSX filed a petition for abandonment with the Surface Transportation Board on May 1, citing declining profits on the line, records show. The board issued a preliminary response on May 21, asking for requests for public use of the space by June 10. A final decision will be issued by Aug. 19.

McMinn officials plan to file a rails to trails request that will be considered along with any reports of environmental impact, said county planner Russell Thress. Meanwhile, the county will have to negotiate with CSX to buy the land.

“It’s an involved process,” Mr. Thress said.

But CSX is ready and willing to come to the table, according to spokesman Bob Sullivan.

“The idea of rails to trails is something we believe in,” Mr. Sullivan said. “We think the idea is a good one, because it preserves those rail corridors that would otherwise be very difficult to put together.”

Ms. Williams said that if the project comes to fruition, there will be endless benefits for the community.

She cited the successful Virginia Creeper Trail, which has drawn tourists to Damascus, Va., bringing industry and public interest.

Mr. Gentry said the trail would provide recreation for local residents and likely raise nearby property values.

“It would provide social outlets for neighbors who maybe otherwise wouldn’t get to know each other, and hopefully it’s an area of opportunity to improve health,” he said. “We’ve looked at other communities (such as Damascus, Va.) and so far, we’re not seeing much of a down side.”

Mr. Gentry said county officials next plan to meet about the trail with state and local agency representatives, including the Tennessee Department of Transportation, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and the city of Athens.

He said he hopes to look into grant opportunities to help fund the project as it moves forward.