Two New Projects at Lake Toccoa in Planning Stages

Main Street Toccoa is getting ready to begin two improvement projects at Lake Toccoa.

Last week, Main Street Manager Christian Hamilton and Community Development Director Connie Tabor met with the grants coordinator from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, which is administering the grants.

According to Hamilton, the City has received two grants to fund the projects.

Hamilton says one of the grants is for a walking trail around the lake.

“We have been working with the Historic Preservation Division of the Department of Natural Resources for about five months to get this project underway,” Hamilton said. “The trail is going to be .7 miles in length. It’s going to go over Lake Toccoa. It’s going to have park benches and there will be boardwalk portion. It will be another resource for the City of Toccoa and its citizens.”

Another grant Toccoa has received will go for the Land and Water Conservation Fund Project at Lake Toccoa.

Hamilton said that project involves building a fishing pier and a pavillion on the lake.

“The goal is to make Lake Toccoa a recreational city park for Toccoa,” Hamilton explained. “The land and water conservation project we hope to have done this year. Once that is done we will start on the recreational trails project. We have an upwards of until 2020 to get both projects done.”

Lake Toccoa already sports a golf course, event center, and restaurant.

Toccoa received a $100,000 grant for the recreational trail project with a total cost to the City of $240,000.

Hamilton said the Land and Water Conservation fund project grant for the fishing pier and pavilion was in the amount of $80,000 with a total cost to the City of $163,000.

City crews will be used to build both projects, according to Hamilton.