Local recreation enthusiasts met Monday evening to help a new advocacy group find its purpose.

Trails for Recreation and Economic Development, or TRED, was started in October as a bicycle and pedestrian advocacy group for Rome and Floyd County.

Around 20 people discussed the official mission of the organization and its goals when they gathered at Cycle Therapy on Broad Street.

“This should be a compass for us,” said former Floyd County Commissioner Jerry Jennings. “It needs to state the direction this organization is taking.”

Jennings directed the conversation and worked to define exactly why the group exists.

Other ideas were to spotlight alternative transportation and safe recreational opportunities.

Assistant Floyd County Manager Noah Simon told the group that the county had received the archaeological assessment of the Redmond Trail project and they were debating on waiting on the environmental report before sending it on to the Georgia Department of Transportation.

“They know where we are on the project and are pleased that we’re keeping them updated,” Simon said.

TRED was instrumental in getting the County Commission to move forward with the project when it collected pledges of more than $62,000 to help secure a $400,000 state grant for the trail’s development.

Redmond Trail is planned to run from the trail on the north side of the Oostanaula River at Avenue A to Tolbert Park.

Mark Webb, a board member of the group, reported that TRED has been recognized by the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office as a new corporation.

The group’s official title is TRED Rome/Floyd Inc. and they are working to get 501c3 nonprofit status so that everyone who pledged money can have the incentive of a tax-deductible donation.