Building a Connected Woodstock: The Dupree Road Trail and What Comes Next
Read the announcement from the City of Woodstock in the Cherokee Tribune.
Since moving to Woodstock, I’ve met so many neighbors who love this city but worry about how quickly it’s grown—and how hard it can be to get around safely without a car. Our roads are busy, our sidewalks don’t always connect, and sometimes basic safety takes a back seat to new development.
Last week, I watched a mom with a stroller step off the curb on Dupree Road, balance her baby on one hip, and walk in the grass along the roadside as cars rushed past at 45 mph. That’s a scene no one should have to live with in a city as prosperous as ours.
What’s Happening
The Cherokee Tribune reports that construction is underway on the Dupree Road Trail, a $397,655.49 project scheduled for completion by December 17, 2025. It will add about 1,500 feet of sidewalks and trail segments to fill gaps along Dupree Road—connecting Market Street to the east side of the I-575 bridge and linking with the Noonday Creek Trail and Cherokee County’s sidewalk network.
Funded in part through a Community Development Block Grant, the trail will serve several low- to moderate-income neighborhoods, where many residents walk to reach schools, jobs, and groceries. The new path will be ADA-compliant, eight to ten feet wide, and include curb and drainage improvements.
Why It Matters
This trail is a big step in the right direction—but progress shouldn’t depend on winning a competitive grant. Too many Woodstock residents still walk in ditches or along busy roads just to get to work or school. According to city transportation data, nearly 40% of Woodstock’s streets still lack sidewalks or trail connections, leaving thousands of residents without safe routes to parks, schools, or downtown.
When we plan for people, not just traffic, we create a safer, more connected city for everyone—from kids walking to school to seniors heading to Dupree Park.
What I’ll Do as Mayor
As mayor, I’ll make pedestrian safety and connectivity a core part of how we plan and budget—not an afterthought.
Here’s my commitment:
Introduce and push a Complete Streets Master Plan in my first 100 days, directing staff—with City Council approval—to deliver a prioritized list of missing sidewalks, bike lanes, and trail connections across Woodstock.
Propose dedicating at least $500,000 per year from SPLOST, T-SPLOST, and other available funds to closing those gaps and expanding pedestrian infrastructure.
Prioritize connections between neighborhoods like Dupree Park, Ridgewalk, and the Town Center Trail system, so residents on every side of I-575 can safely walk or bike downtown.
These investments are realistic within the city’s current transportation funding and essential to Woodstock’s long-term safety, mobility, and quality of life.
How You Can Help
Election Day is November 4.
Early voting is underway at the South Cherokee Annex, 7545 Main St, Building 200.
Find full hours and details at cherokeegavotes.com/advance-voting-2.
If you believe Woodstock should invest in walkable infrastructure that serves all residents, I’m asking for your vote. Together, we can build a city that connects people, not just cars.
