Connecting Fayette, One Trail at a Time

Ask people why they moved to Fayette County and what they love, answers often turn to education, proximity to the airport, public safety, and community. If you talk to someone long enough, outdoors and nature will eventually come up. This includes a quiet walk on the Ridge Nature Preserve, a Saturday afternoon at Kenwood Park, or a golf cart ride through Peachtree City. That simple truth sits at the heart of what we have learned over the past three years.

In 2024, the Fayette County Development Authority led a group of business leaders, civic volunteers, and appointed and elected officials on what we call our research and discovery visit. In chamber of commerce circles, these trips are often referred to as intercity visits, but I believe our name fits better. We do not travel to copy anyone but rather to study and learn.

Our journeys have taken us to Bentonville, AR; Frisco, TX; and Cary, NC. On paper, these communities could not be more different. One is a small city that became a national destination. One is among the fastest-growing cities in America. One is a thoughtfully planned town in the heart of North Carolina’s Research Triangle. Yet each has wrestled with the same questions we face which are how to grow the economy, manage infrastructure, prepare a workforce, and educate the next generation.

What struck me most was what they had in common. Every one of them invested heavily in public spaces. Parks, trails, and paths were not afterthoughts. They were central to the plan. In Bentonville, trails wind through neighborhoods, downtown, and into the woods, carrying families, cyclists, and commuters alike. In Cary, greenways link homes to schools, parks, and shopping. In Frisco, parks and gathering places help a booming city feel like home. In each place, leaders tell us the same thing: quality of life is economic development. Increasingly, young professionals and growing families decide where they want to live before choosing where to work. They seek communities where they can step outside, connect with their neighbors, and feel at home. Employers follow that talent.

Fayette County already has a head start. Peachtree City’s path system is admired by communities across the country, our parks are well loved, and our neighborhoods are safe and welcoming. Still, our municipalities remain largely disconnected from one another when it comes to trails.

That is why Fayette Forward matters. Born from what we experienced in Bentonville, Fayette Forward envisions a more robust trail system that connects our municipalities and creates new recreational opportunities for residents of every age. Imagine riding from one town to the next, stopping at a local restaurant along the way, and arriving home without ever starting your car. That is not a dream reserved for other places. It can happen right here.

Of course, a project of this scale requires partnership, patience, and investment. It also requires your creativity and open-mindedness. I encourage you to learn more about Fayette Forward, and give thought to what a connected Fayette would mean to your family.

We have seen what is possible. Now it is our turn to build it together.

Leonardo McClarty, CCE, is President & CEO of the Fayette Chamber of Commerce.