Clairmont Heights Civic Association

The PATH Foundation is sharing their draft plan for Phase 2 of the South Peachtree Creek Trail (see attachments or instructions below). Background: Phase 1 connected Medlock Park to Mason Mill Park and terminated at the stone bridge over Burnt Fork Creek in the middle of Mason Mill. Phase 2 would run from the stone bridge, over the CSX railroad tracks, and terminate at McConnell Drive.

The CHCA board submitted the following questions to PATH and commissioner Jeff Rader. As of this date, we received a response only from PATH's director Ed McBrayer; we're told that commissioner Rader is working on a statement. Some of the questions don't have full answers yet, but we thought the information so far is useful enough to be shared.

• Was Phase II implementation already approved by the county? PATH: Phase 2 is only in planning & design phase. It is not confirmed whether or not the Board of Commissioners will approve implementation.
• Was PATH given the contract? PATH: PATH is spending PATH money to design the trail. No contract has been given to anyone. Construction will be done using standard County bidding procedures.
• What is the timeframe for construction to begin and end? PATH: To be determined. No schedule has been established.
• What is the number of trees to be removed and will there be new trees planted to help restore the canopy? PATH: To be determined. Plans are not yet completed.
• What person or entity will oversee day-to-day construction to ensure all environmental laws are complied with? Specifically, will there be erosion and sediment control measures where construction is within the state buffer? PATH: All local, state, and federal regulations will be followed.
• Who is on the Steering Committee and what is its role? Is it fair to say that the Steering Committee merely serves an advisory role, rather than an oversight role in this sense? PATH: It is my understanding the steering committee will play the same role it played in Phase 1.

Everyone is of course welcome also to contact directly the PATH Foundation (path@pathfoundation.org) or Commissioner Jeff Rader (jrader@co.dekalb.ga.us)

Instructions for downloading the draft plan follow. Be advised that the plans are quite technical. In summary, it appears by our reading that Phase 2 starts as a cement trail at the stone bridge then bends around the ruins of the old City of Decatur Water Works (the county's historic preservation commission we're told has approved this), then turns into boardwalk as it climbs up to the top of a hill above the water works, makes a sharp u-turn to accommodate ADA grade requirements, then crosses about 23' above the railroad tracks to the other side where it ramps down again as boardwalk, and converts back to cement as it follows the existing spur of McConnell Drive and terminates at the Tennis Center parking lot. Compare the route with that proposed in the new Mason Mill Park Master Plan.

• Use Internet Explorer to go to this Site (ftp://ftp.hdrinc.com/), and enter the following User name and Password. For additional information refer to the site's Guest Guidelines for IE 6 or Guest Guidelines for IE 7.
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The Password will be valid for another couple of months. If you have difficulty, please contact the PATH Foundation (path@pathfoundation.org). The same files in smaller size are available below as attachments to this post.