Members of the Greene County Trails Committee on Wednesday got its first look at possible designs for new Interstate 81 signs and a new Web site that will promote Greene County's outdoor recreation, cultural and historic sites to tourists.

The cost of developing the signs, brochures and Web site is being covered by a $10,000 Rural Development American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Grant that the Greene County Partnership received earlier this year.

Shari Oster, the committee chairmain, showed members draft copies of a proposed sign for installation on large "attraction" signs at Interstate 81's Exits 23 and 36 in Greene County and a draft Web page.

The signs, designed to be read by motorists traveling at highway speeds, feature a golden sun rising over mountain ridges and reads, "Discover My Greene County.com."

Oster noted that the "discovermygreenecounty.com\" also could be the Web address for a new Web site to promote Greene County's outdoor recreation opportunities, as well as the county's historic and cultural sites.

She said the Interstate 81 signs also could bear three stars with the words "culture," "history" and "outdoor recreation" located next to the stars.

Oster plans to have draft signs designed with, and without, the culture, history and outdoor recreation.

A draft copy of a proposed Web page presented to the committee by Oster also carried the three-star format with the words, culture, history and outdoor recreation positioned adjacent to the stars.

The proposed Web site will feature links to information, including maps, about cultural, historic and outdoor recreation sites.

In addition, she said, the Web site will offer links to sites along the state's proposed "SunnySide Byway" trail, which will pass through Greene County and to local "off-route" trails that will be connected to the SunnySide Byway trail.

Although some Greene County sites will be featured in a state-funded SunnySide Byway trail, Oster said, promotion of local sites largely will be the responsibility of local tourism officials.

She said that is where the new Web site and other materials being developed by the Greene County Trails Committee can play a key role.

Oster also said the Trails Committee's December meeting will be used as a work session to further develop the proposed Web site and Interstate signs.

Also during the Trails Committee meeting, Paul Hayden, executive director of the Middle Nolichuckey Watershed Alliance, reported on efforts to develop a "Nolichucky River Blueway" that would traverse Greene County from east to west.

Hayden said canoe and kayak paddlers could follow the proposed 50-mile-long "blueway" down the Nolichucky River from Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park to the point where Lick Creek joins the river near the Greene-Hamblen County line.

During discussion, Hayden presented a list of possible access points along the river.

He noted that Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park, the proposed starting point of the blueway, has full camping and other facilities, but that most other river access points that have been identified so far have no facilities for paddlers or campers.

Hayden said he hopes the former Tennessee Valley Authority bird sanctuary site near the dam off the Asheville Highway can be reopened as a river access point, with parking, restrooms and camping facilities.

He noted that County Mayor Alan Broyles and other county officials have agreed to ask the Tennessee Department of Transportation to include a river access point, suitable for canoes, kayaks and boards that can be hand-carried at the site of the new bridge that is to be built along West Allens Bridge Road.

Hayden also told the committee that agreements for easements with private land owners at some of the proposed river access points need to be reached.

For example, he said, access to the river at the confluence of Lick Creek and the Nolichucky River is via privately owned land, as is access at the Love Bridge on U.S. 321 (the Newport Highway).

Hayden noted that he needs volunteers who have boats and GPS units to assist him in obtaining the grid coordinate locations to river access points as well as river hazards, such as rapids, shoals and large rocks.

Anyone who would like to assist Hayden with the GPS mapping project is asked to call him at (423) 525-4652 (office) or 552-0774 (cell phone).