By Heather Buckner, Elizabeth Florio, Josh Green, Betsy Riley, Xavier Stevens, Lucinda Warnke, Kamille Whittaker, and Sam Worley
Discover 50 Ways to Play Outside in Atlanta and Beyond. One of the best ways is to explore the River Boardwalk trail. This spring, the Chattahoochee Nature Center opened its renovated 2,000-foot boardwalk along the Chattahoochee River. The most exciting part is the new, ADA-accessible pedestrian bridge over Willeo Road, which at long last connects the center to its river campus across the street.
Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) students majoring in environmental science and English participated in a field trip to study, explore and understand the Chattahoochee River. This unique watershed, which runs from North Georgia to the Florida border, offers a chance for students, whose majors are very different to understand how their areas of study can align to benefit this natural resource.
ATLANTA — A group of some 40 paddlers left from Settles Bridge in Gwinnett County on a seven-day, 112-mile journey on the Chattahoochee River to the upper reaches of West Point Lake in Heard County as part of Georgia River Network’s Paddle Georgia 2022.
Roswell is a favorite of locals and tourists alike and offers a great selection of various activities. Come and visit attractions such as the famous Canton Street, Southern Trilogy home tours, theaters, ghost walks, and locally-owned shops, or unwind and relax near the Chattahoochee River.
The suburbs sometimes get a bad rap as being “boring.” After all, the action is in Midtown, right?
Not necessarily. According to Thrillist, the suburbs of Atlanta have a lot to offer. From dining to nature, metro Atlanta’s suburbs are more than just family-focused neighborhoods and strip malls.
New ADA accessible Boardwalk River Trail, ramp, and canoe launch
There is greater access to the river for populations with varying abilities on our new and improved River Boardwalk Trail which includes a new ADA accessible boardwalk and ramp as well as a canoe launch that is open for all to enjoy! We asked Rick Hirsekorn, Board Trustee and Project Manager, and Alicia Thompson, Senior Director of Learning and Engagement to fill us in on how accessibility is improved on the boardwalk, ramp, and canoe launch.
On the north side of Willeo Road, beginning at the Ben Brady Pavilion and proceeding towards the Pedestrian Bridge, the ramped slopes between 1:20 (5%) and 1:12 (8.33%) and have level 5‘ wide landings at no more than 30’ ramp run intervals. The remainder of the ramp leading up to the bridge is less than a 1:20 (5%) slope, so no need for any landings!
On the south side of Willeo Road, the ramp section immediately south of the Pedestrian Bridge (between the Pedestrian Bridge and the overlook platform) is greater than 1:20 (5%) slope but less than 30’ in length, and the Overlook Platform serves as a landing. From the Overlook Platform down to the boardwalk, the slope is less than 1:20 (5%), so there is no need for any landings.
Our supplementary ramp adjacent to and south of the Ben Brady Pavilion is NOT ADA-compliant, due to the slope of the concrete entrance ramp, and is to be utilized when not accessing the ramp from the Ben Brady Pavilion. The ADA-accessible concrete ramp from the area adjacent to the drinking fountain up to the pavilion is the beginning of our ADA-accessible path. One then enters the ramp to the bridge at the corner of the Ben Brady Pavilion and the pathway is then ADA-accessible all the way up to and across the bridge and then down to the boardwalk. The boardwalk itself is less than 1:20 (5%) slope at any point and so is ADA-accessible in its entirety.
On the riverfront side of the River Boardwalk Trail, CNC hosts a private canoe launch where all CNC river adventures begin. The updated, ADA-inspired accessible canoe launch features a deck from which all guests access the river. A wide ramp with grab bars allows canoes to slide into the river without having guests walk in the wetland mud. Should a guest have mobility issues or use a wheelchair, the ramp includes a transfer bench. The bench is designed to allow for ease of movement from a seated position down into a canoe. Guests use the overhead grab bar and ease themselves across 3 low steps and down into a canoe.
To exit the river, a mechanical winch provides an easy way to pull guests with limited mobility up the ramp and back to the main deck. We can’t wait for you to explore the new River Boardwalk Trail!
ROSWELL, Ga. — The Chattahoochee Nature Center held a grand opening and ribbon-cutting March 15 for its newly restored 2,000-foot River Boardwalk Trail and Connection Bridge.
Chattahoochee Nature Center staff, Roswell City Council members, and countless others attended the event to see the project first-hand.
Last week, the folks with the Chattahoochee Nature Center (CNC), Fulton County officials, and residents gathered to unveil the Center’s new connection bridge and revamped River Boardwalk Trail.
Park-goers will notice one improvement pretty immediately — a new pedestrian bridge directly connecting the CNC main campus to the River Boardwalk Trail, rather than crossing Willeo Road when accessing the riverside.
ROSWELL, Ga. – Staffers at the Chattahoochee Nature Center in Roswell say their goal has always been to connect people with nature. Now, that connection is more literal than ever, thanks to the addition of some exciting new infrastructure.
This morning, the team at the Chattahoochee Nature Center is celebrating the grand opening of a new river boardwalk trail and connection bridge with a special ceremony and ribbon cutting.
After decades of work, the City of Atlanta has officially secured nine acres bordering the Chattahoochee River in Riverside, creating Atlanta’s newest natural oasis — Lower Paul Park.
Any chance to get away from the bustle of the city is exciting, but the folks in Riverside know this park represents something more — staunch determination and an unwavering vision from residents.
Photo by Kelly Jordan