PATH Newsletter
DECEMBER 2006
SILVER COMET TRAIL ACQUISITION COMPLETE
The acquisition of land for the Silver Comet between Rockmart and Cedartown began during the fall of 2005. Joe Anderson, an attorney in Cedartown and President of the Polk County Rails-to-Trails chapter, agreed to partner with Ed McBrayer, Director of PATH to find a way to connect the Comet across Polk County. Joe and Ed have assembled over sixty acres of land from thirty-eight different property owners that will soon be transformed into an eight-mile ribbon of greenspace and the Silver Comet Trail. Several miles of the trail will skirt edges of pastures where fences will be moved ever so slightly to make room for the trail. Other segments will meander through towering woodlands far enough from civilization to giveriders a true natural experience. Silver Comet patrons accustomed to flat, rail bed conditions will encounter their first hills soon after leaving Rockmart. Even longer hills will be encountered as the trail winds through the forest approaching Cedartown. The new section of the Comet will offer a challenge to even the strongest riders as it crosses ridgelines and negotiates the rolling topography of western Polk County. An overwhelming majority of landowners contacted recognized the trail as a benefit to the community and the future property values. The reputation the trail has for increasing adjacent land values and providing a local recreation amenity made Ed and Joe’s job much easier than it would have been several years ago. "Two or three years ago, this would not have been possible" said Joe. "People we contacted knew about the trail and understood it better than they did when it came to Rockmart." Completing the corridor acquisition was a dream come true for Ed. "We are so proud of the latest sections of the Comet. Riders who have been back and forth to Rockmart will soon have a whole new trail to explore. The scenery west of Wheeler Road is incredible." All but 2.5 miles of the trail are under construction. PATH hopes to raise the $1.1 million needed to complete all segments of the Comet by the spring of 2007. (All donations will be appreciated.) We plan to have a ribbon cutting at the stateline with governors from Alabama and Georgia by the end of 2007.
A huge milestone was achieved in October when the last of 38 parcels needed to complete the Silver Comet Trail from Smyrna to the Alabama state line were acquired. Only money and months are needed to complete construction of the last eight miles of the Comet.
FIRST TRAIL IN NORTH DEKALB NOW OPEN
PATH’s first trail venture in north DeKalb County was completed this fall. The Nancy Creek Trail (construction name Perimeter Trail) now links Donaldson Rd. to the lake in Murphy-Candler Park. The two-mile long trail crosses the new bridge over Nancy Creek across from Marist High School, thanks to the foresight of DeKalb County Transportation Director John Gurbal and the Georgia DOT. What a concept: leaving room on a new bridge for a future trail connection.Now with the help of donors to the PATH 2006 Capital Campaign and the DeKalb County Parks Bond program, the PATH/DeKalb partnership has made the connection to each side of the bridge from Blackburn Park and Murphy-Candler Park. The trail passes behind the tennis center and weaves through the soccer fields in Blackburn Park, connecting parking lots to venues and creating new vantage points from which to enjoy the games. The trail in Blackburn Park was crowded as soon as the route was cleared and graded. Future extensions of the Nancy Creek Trail will connect with the Publix shopping center on Ashford-Dunwoody Road and to Fox Glen Court. PATH is also seeking a route from Murphy-Candler Park to Perimeter Mall and the Medical Center MARTA station. As usual, without great partners, this trail would still be on the drawing board. DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jones, Commissioner Elaine Boyer, Parks & Recreation Managers Marvin Billups and Gary Dalton, and Transportation Director John Gurbal were all instrumental in getting this trail built. The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation donated funds for both the acquisition of land and construction of the trail. Cox Enterprises and other contributors to the 2006 CapitalCampaign furnished the matchingfunds for trail construction. PATH has now built 25.3 miles of trails in DeKalb County. We think DeKalb County now has more greenway trails than any other county in the state. 
PATH PARTNERS WITH THE STATE
Visitors to the recently installed South River Bridge at the southern end of the Arabia Mountain Trail have been surprised to find a barricade at the far end of the bridge. PATH and DeKalb County built the Arabia Mountain Trail and since DeKalb County ends at the South River, a new partnership had to be formed for the trail to continue. The extension of the trail beyond the South River will enter Panola Mountain State Park and Rockdale County. PATH and Georgia State Parks have a long standing partnership that includes collaboration to build the Silver Comet. Kelly Jordan, an avid trail supporter, introduced PATH to Rockdale County officials and the new partnership was consumated. PATH and State Parks are funding the next segment of the trail from the South River bridge to the parking area previously used by the Southerness Golf Course and now part of Panola Mountain State Park. State Parks plans to improve the existing parking area as a trail head. This trail segment will be the first phase of the "Rockdale River Trail" which is the continuation of the Arabia Mountain Trail into Rockdale County. Future phases of this trail will continue to the Monastery of the Holy Spirit. PATH and State Parks plan to start construction on this trail early next year with completion set for summer. PATH is also proposing a new trailhead on Brown’s Mill Road near Pole Bridge Creek for the Arabia Mountain Trail. This facility will be built in partnership with DeKalb County.
RESTORING THE GLORY OF HERMI'S BRIDGE
There are scores of Atlanta landmarks that make architect Cecil Alexander proud as he approaches his 89th birthday. After all, he designed the Coca-Cola corporate headquarters, the BellSouth and Georgia Power buildings, the Five Points MARTA station and Phipps Plaza. His energy these days is focused on a much smaller project that is very dear to his heart: the restoration of Hermi’s Bridge over the Chattahoochee River at Paces Ferry Road.
The bridge was built in 1903 as a single-lane auto bridge to replace Hardy’s Ferry, a ferryboat that operated across the river prior to Atlanta even becoming a city. It was built by Cobb and Fulton Counties to relieve congestion as cars and pedestrians lined up to cross the river. When the bridge was abandoned in 1974 in favor of the two-lane concrete structure in place today, Cecil and his wife Hermione (Hermi) Weil Alexander led an effort to retain the bridge as a pedestrian crossing rather than tearing it down. Hermi raised money from the community to preserve the structure and became the unofficial sponsor for preserving the handsome structure. After Hermi’s tragic death in an automobile accident in 1983, The Fulton County Board of Commissioners eagerly honored Cecil’s request to dedicate the bridge to the woman who had done so much to keep it in place.
Today, Hermi’s Bridge is in a state of disrepair, covered in lead-based paint, with numerous structural problems and a decaying deck. Cecil appealed to Fulton and Cobb Counties for help to keep the bridge from deteriorating any further. Ralph Daniels, Chief of Staff for Fulton County, and Commissioner Tom Lowe, helped secured a $320,000 federal grant to restore the structure. The grant requires a twenty percent local match. Cecil encouraged Cobb County, the City of Atlanta, and the PATH Foundation to participate in the match. (Recently, Cobb County has assumed sponsorship and oversight of the project.) PATH plans to connect the bridge to the sidewalk along Woodland Brook and to the Lovett School entrance so it will truly serve as a pedestrian connector.
Preliminary engineering estimates now total over $500,000 to complete the restoration. The local partners including PATH have agreed to increase their respective commitments to match the federal allocation. Each of the partners will contribute over $60,000 to the cause. Work is scheduled to begin in early 2008.
Even as engineers plan the restoration and financial commitments fall in place, Cecil’s passion for the project is still strong. He is helping PATH raise money from the community to help PATH honor its commitment. It will be an extraordinary day when Cecil and his partners cut the ribbon and cross the newly restored Hermi’s Bridge. It is an honor for PATH to help him make this happen.
CITY AND PATH PLAN SOUTHTOWNE TRAIL
The City of Atlanta and PATH are partnering to develop the Southtowne Trail in Southeast Atlanta. The trail will connect the Lakewood Fairgrounds to the Brown’s Mill Golf Course with a loop around the Golf Course similar to the one around North Fulton Golf Course at Chastain Park. PATH is coordinating the golf course portion of the trail with American Golf, who leases the course from the City. Design work by ECOS Environmental Design began this month. Council member Joyce Shepherd has allocated Quality of Life Bond funding to help fund design and construction of the project.
TANYARD URBAN FOREST HAS A TRAIL
PATH recently completed a short section of trail through the Tanyard Urban Forest near Ardmore Circle and Tanyard Park. The trail connects several new townhome developments near I-75 through the Tanyard Urban Forest to Ardmore Park. This trail provides access from the townhomes to Tanyard Park, Ardmore Park, and Piedmont Hospital along Ardmore Circle. Future segments of this trail will likely connect Ardmore Park to Atlanta Memorial Park.
The Tanyard Urban Forest is a five-plus acre tract that was scheduled for development a few years ago when neighbors, with help from the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, rallied to preserve it as a forest. The new trail provides respectful access to an incredible forest that was almost removed to facilitate development.
DEKALB AND PATH CELEBRATE 100TH MILE OF TRAIL
Officials from DeKalb County, Rockdale County, Georgia State Parks, the Flat Rock Community, the Klondike Civic Association, the Arabia Mountain Alliance, and PATH gathered near Panola Mountain on the Arabia Mountain Trail on September 12th to celebrate completion of the Arabia Mountain Trail. The newly opened segment of the trail makes it possible to bike from Lithonia or Stonecrest Mall to "South Beach", a sandy spot along the South River at the DeKalb-Rockdale County line.
DeKalb CEO Vernon Jones welcomed everyone and recognized his staff for all the fine work they have done during the development of the trail. PATH Executive Director Ed McBrayer recognized his staff and PATH Board members Bill Fowler, Harvey Hill, and Samuel Bacote who attended the festive event. PATH has now completed over 100 miles of trails, over twenty-five of which are in DeKalb County.
SOUTH BEACH
Now you can ride your bike or walk to "South Beach!" Not the South Beach in southern Florida with thousands of tourists and amenities galore, we’re talking about a sandy beach along the South River created by a quick turn in the river near the South River Bridge.We installed a set of stairs from the boardwalk approach to facilitate walks to the beach. Depending on the level of the river, the beach varies in size and shape from no beach at all after heavy rains to an acre of sand several hundred feet long and almost a hundred feet wide. The beach itself changes shape and character after every major storm. We expect South Beach to become a destination of choice, for picnics and casual encounters with the river environment. Just remember to respect the natural habitat and refrain from visiting when the river is high. Also, take away anything you bring to the beach. Natural debris does not take away from the river experience but your picnic trash will. To visit South Beach, continue south on the Arabia Mountain Trail to mile 10.2 and there it is! 
PATH ANNUAL CAMPAIGN IN HIGH GEAR
Recently we distributed a mailer from us asking for a donation to our Annual Campaign. Gifts to the Annual Campaign help defray the cost of administration at PATH. Over 88% of all the donations received each year go toward building trails. We pride ourselves for maintaining a very low overhead thereby using your contributions to actually build trails. Your contributions to the annual campaign allow us to minimize the use of Capital Campaign dollars for any purpose other than construction and maintenance of trails. Thanks as always for supporting our cause. We appreciate your continued interest and support.
PATH DOES MASTER PLAN FOR CONYERS
The City of Conyers is only a few miles from the Arabia Mountain Trail and proposed Rockdale River Trail along the South River. Close is not good enough for this progressive city.
The City recently hired PATH to develop a conceptual master plan for connecting Olde Town Conyers to the trail system being constructed along the South River. Daniel Digby with the Conyers Downtown Development Authority has been the liaison between PATH and the City of Conyers. PATH is also working with Rockdale County since much of the proposed trail will be outside of the City.
The PATH master plan will likely include another bridge over the South River into the Rockdale Community Park. This park will become a "trail crossroads" where the trail from Olde Town meets the Rockdale River Trail. Residents of Conyers will be able to travel by trail from Olde Town to the Monastery of the Holy Spirit,
Arabia Mountain, Stonecrest Mall at Stonecrest, and Lithonia when the trail is constructed. The plan should be completed by year end.
