By Jessica Dillon
Community members have raised concerns about the safety of the Dick and Willie Trail, pointing to issues involving the unhoused community and wildlife. These claims have made some residents hesitant to use the trail during the day and especially at night.
Henry County Parks and Recreation Director Roger Adams said he has not heard of any issues occurring on the trail. “We’re not really aware of any instances on the trail. Um, you know, our staff patrols it regularly.” Sheriff Wayne Davis also confirmed that the trail hasn’t had any “cases of note that we are aware of.”
Adams said any inappropriate activity on the trail, including unhoused individuals building shelters, is reported to the sheriff’s office. “If there are homeless people, we call the police, and we throw away any items that are there.”
Davis confirmed that officers do check the trail and will remove individuals trying to set up a home there. Both Davis and Adams recommended using another location at night.
“The trail is not lit, so I probably wouldn’t recommend going after dark,” Adams said. “Jack Dalton Park has lights around the trail, so a lot of people go there after dark and walk. But I don’t think you’ll encounter many people on the trail after dark.”
Adams also said no lights are planned for the trail, as running electrical lines and lighting the entire trail would “be an issue.” As for wildlife, he said, “Some parts of the trail are nature trails, and some parts are remote. You could come across any type of animal, but I’ve never seen anything other than deer or smaller animals when I’ve been out on it. I know some people have seen a couple of bears, which you can take precautions for.”
Davis offered several recommendations for using the trail: avoid leaving valuables in vehicles, take a charged phone, inform others of your location, use the trail during daylight, and report suspicious activity to the sheriff’s office.
Local athlete Michael Taylor said training on the trail has been safe for him. “You’re never too far from an entrance on the Dick and Willie, so you should never feel unsafe.” He added that the trail is always heavily trafficked when it’s daylight.
Taylor said he has encountered unhoused individuals but has never been asked for money or experienced any issues. “I wave and they wave back, and it was all friendly interactions with each other.”
He also said he believes the trail is safe for both men and women. “There are a lot of women who go on the trail as well by themselves, walking, running. I don’t have problems. I haven’t heard of anyone being attacked on the trail.”
He believes some current fears may stem from a lack of connection within the community. “When you look at it from the top-down view, you realize that we’re all part of the same community and we all need to look out for each other, whether you have a home or not.”
Taylor said that while he encountered wildlife, he hasn’t seen bears. “I personally have not seen any bears or anything like that. I know other people who have, but you have to remember that we do share nature with animals, and the Dick and Willie is their home.”
Adams said the county is still looking at expanding the trail. “It will be done in sections. The next section we’re working on is acquiring the right-of-way and doing design work. So the next section would be from Virginia Avenue to Fieldale or to Koehler. From there, we’d get across the river, connect to the Fieldale Trail, and then start upstream. But that will all be done in sections. The trail will follow the old railroad line.”
