Hart Co. Group Proposes I-85 Beautification Plan

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR Radio, Lavonia

A group of concerned citizens in Hart County is working on a plan to beautify the four corners of Exit 177 and Interstate 85.

Recently, the Hart County Board of Commissioners heard from members of the Hart County Support Group, a loosely formed group of Hart County residents whose goal is to make improvements in the community wherever they can.

According to spokesman Jim Martin, the group has been working with Georgia Department of Transportation and Department of Corrections officials to develop a beautification plan.

Martin said one cornerstone of the beautification plan includes putting up a large sign along the southbound side of the Interstate pointing travelers to Hartwell and Hart County.

The sign would be located on Georgia DOT property along Harbor Light Marina Road.

Martin said the group is looking for a major corporate sponsor to pay for the project.

He said there are about 15 corporations in Georgia that would fit their criteria and might be willing to be a sponsor, such as Home Depot and Coca-Cola.

According to a design presented at the commission meeting, the four corners would be landscaped and various types of flowers and plants would be put in.

Martin said work would be done by prisoners from the Whitworth Women’s Correctional Facility in Hart County and would also be an opportunity for the inmates to learn a job skill.

The group expects the project to take several years to complete.

After hearing from Martin, several commissioners said they liked the idea.

However, because the beautification would be done on state-owned property around Exit 177, no vote was necessary by the Commission to approve the project.