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The Pickens County YMCA is encouraging members of the community to become involved in the “Rails to Trails” discussion.

The “Rails to Trails” project involves an eight-mile stretch of the Pickens Railway between the cities of Pickens and Easley that is being considered for conversion into a multi-use recreational trail system.

Pickens County will be holding a regular scheduled council meeting Monday at 6:30 p.m. where an open forum will be provided for members of the community to speak their minds on any county topic.

Through social media, the YMCA was made aware of people attending the open forum to speak out against the “Rails to Trails” project.

“The Hope is, as a community, and for the YMCA, we ask people to join the discussion regarding the “Rails to Trails” either way. Having said that, 85 percent of the people involved with the YMCA support the “Rails to Trails” idea,” said YMCA CEO, Sid Collins.

The YMCA conducted a survey with its members on the “Rails to Trails” project which resulted in 85 percent of its members being in favor of the idea. A Greater Easley Chamber of Commerce survey found that 90 percent of its membership supports city and county leaders working together to purchase the property for the sole purpose of developing a hiking/biking trail, according to a leter to the editor published in this edition of he Easley Progress.

The trail could be used for jogging, biking, and an assortment of other outdoor activities and the open forum will provide a platform for those who support the idea and those who do not.

“The YMCA has encouraged those who responded to the “Rails to Trails” survey held earlier this summer to attend the open forum and engage in discussion,” said Collins.