A Hot Spot to Protect Fayette County, GA

Peach Tree City, GA: Have you ever heard of a town that commutes by Golf Cart? This is a reality in Fayette County, Georgia where residents have access to over 90 miles of multi-use Greenways. Walkers, runners, cyclists, and even riders of golf carts utilize these paths every day of the year to get around town and to access the counties green spaces. These nature areas of Fayette County are the focus of a 2016 Leave No Trace Hot Spot.

For one full week the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers worked hand-in-hand with the Southern Conservation Trust, who manages the green spaces in Fayette County.

Fayette County has four big visitor created impacts litter, pet waste, social trails, and even illegal fires. Next time you visit a county park do your best to follow Leave No Trace by practicing these principles…

• Trash Your Trash and Pick Up Poop: Trash happens, carry a bag to carry out your waste. The Deuter Dirt Bag is how the traveling trainers carry out their waste. When walking with a pet always pack out their waste, even in wooded areas. Dog poo contains several billion fecal forms of bacteria, according to the Center for Disease Control.
• Stick to the Trail: Walking off trail in frontcountry environments like the green spaces of Fayette County creates new trails and harms all plant life. Luckily, the Southern Conservation Trust has a network maintained trails to get you to all of the best hidden gems in the parks.
• Be Careful with Fire: Fire does not have a place in these parks and is illegal. Most visitors wait to have a fire until they arrive at a designated campsite with a fire ring, or return home.

The Leave No Trace Hot Spot program aims to address the impacts in an area. Through education and outreach we can all work together to change the culture of areas just like this. Share Leave No Trace with others so our natural world is protected for future generations to come.

Adventure on!

Steph and Andy –

Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer Team East

Leave No Trace’s Steph Whatton and Andy Mossey are part of the 2016 Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer Program that provides free, mobile education to communities across the country. Proud partners of this program include Subaru of America, REI, Fjall Raven, ENO, Deuter, Thule, and SmartWool.