In 2018 the City of Villa Rica passed a Master Plan for the Gold Nugget Trail. Private and public entities researched and developed an ambitious project to integrate a city-wide pedestrian trail system linking communities together. It proposed a 22.6 mile network of multi-use trails divided into several segments and reconfiguring existing public rights-of-way to accommodate the plan. Six years later and the progress has been modest. Inflation, stalls in local development, economic pressures, and a variety of other factors have combined to create adverse conditions for the project. But out of adversity, there is sometimes renewed and reimagined progress.
In September 2024, Rickman Architecture and Designs published a new proposal dubbed The Goldway.
Design of The Goldway seeks to capitalize on the best parts of the original plan while improving in several areas. It includes a multi-use trail network featuring four distinct trails.
The Station Trail: Runs through Fullerville, Downtown, the eastside, and Old Town. It includes 3.8 miles of paved multi-use paths connecting to or extending all the central in-town areas throughout the area and runs along railroads and abandoned easements.
The Creek Trail: 4.3 miles.This nature preservation trail is planned around the tributaries of the Little Tallapoosa River. It connects To Commerce Drive, Villa Trace, Rivershire Place, and Villa Rica High School. The design is intended to appeal to those who want a little nature in the midst of a growing city.
The Springs Trail: 8.7 miles (with spurs). Also a mixed-use trail that “integrates the rich history and natural beauty of the area, this trail follows Bay Springs Creek, entering the upcoming Avemore development, and then connects to the VPlex and Ithaca Elementary School.
The Lake Trail: Utilizes existing multi-use paths in Mirror Lake and connects to the planned Conners Rd. Nature Preserve for a total of 5.7 miles of trail.
Elements included in the plan are dedicated parking at trailheads, plentiful signage and maps, camera and call boxes, and an app for tracking location, security, and directions.
Taking the lead on the project for Rickman Architecture and Designs is Brayden Champ Evans. The impetus for improving the somewhat dormant Gold Nugget Trail came from his study on urban planning in small cities and how Villa Rica’s divisions, particularly the separation of Mirror Lake from the rest of the city, impacted the cohesive fabric of the community. This led to a plan designed to reunite the city’s communities, leveraging undeveloped land near the Carroll/Douglas County line. Evan’s proposal won first place in a state-level competition in Georgia. “After sharing it online, it gained recognition from city officials and eventually reached Rickman Architecture and Design, where founder Michael Rickman invited me to present it to his team and the former City Manager. Impressed by my work, they later offered me a position at RAD. Since joining, I’ve led the development of The Goldway Network, including creating the master plan and website. My colleagues at RAD have supported me with their expertise, helping turn this vision into a reality,” shared Evans.
From there, the project gained momentum. “Unlike the original Gold Nugget Trail, developed entirely by external entities, The Goldway Network was created locally by a team deeply connected to the community. We began by presenting our plan to Diana DeSanto, Villa Rica’s Interim City Manager at that time. She was enthusiastic about the project and appreciated our fresh take on the multi-use trail concept. From the beginning, the city has encouraged developers to incorporate sections of The Goldway into their plans. This partnership ensures the project aligns with Villa Rica’s growth vision.”
Villa Rica Mayor, Leslie McPherson said, “I truly appreciate the enthusiasm that Champ and The Rickman Group have brought to this project. Their efforts to engage the public and reignite the excitement that has been dormant in recent years are invaluable. Moving forward, this can become a reality for our community, not just a dream. For our residents, how wonderful would it be to step outside and easily access a trail, walking safely through town?”
Rickman Architecture and Design was founded by Michael Rickman (Founder & Principal Architect of RAD) 12 years ago. With decades of experience in architecture and design his focus has been on creating “meaningful spaces that drive positive change.” RAD has worked on a variety of projects, including mixed-use developments, libraries, parks, and fire stations. Beyond Villa Rica, they’ve completed larger projects in Atlanta and neighboring states. You can learn more about them at www.radga.com. Also vital to the project in addition to Evans and Rickman, have been Taylor Pinilla and Rachel Cook who helped Evans develop the Goldway Plan.
Perhaps the most remarkable and promising element of the Goldway is the designer himself. Champ Evans is an 18 year old student at Villa Rica High School. He won first place in multimedia applications at the Georgia Student Technology Competition in March, 2024. He has been a student teaching intern for Graphic Design at North Carroll College & Career Academy before joining RAD as an architectural intern. Evans isn’t just trying to get the city on the right path; he’s walking the path himself.
You can see more about the project and follow the progress at vrgoldway.com
Chuck Palmer
News & Views writer Chuck Palmer is a retired teacher from Douglas County High School. He shares his unique perspective on everyday life in his monthly "Just My Take" column which appears in all three magazines.
