The Dunwoody Nature Center has launched a $1.72 million stream and wetland restoration project that will involve the construction of a new boardwalk.
“This project will be a massive improvement not only to the look and feel of the current boardwalk but also to the wetland ecosystem,” Dunwoody Nature Center Executive Director Nancy Longacre said in a statement. “We are excited about how this project will provide controlled areas for exploration for all of our visitors and program participants.”
The old boardwalk and the eastside of Wildcat Creek will be off-limits during construction, which started last week.
The redesign and extension of the existing boardwalk will provide ADA access to the Dunwoody Nature Center playgrounds. The new boardwalk will be eight feet wide and include outdoor classrooms for studying Dunwoody’s aquatic resources, with seating and observation decks.
The stream stabilization and wetlands restoration will begin at the Dunwoody Nature Center property line and end at the historic stone masonry weir. Environmental benefits include increasing wildlife habitat and improving water quality. The project aligns with the 2016 Master Plan for the Dunwoody Nature Center, according to the release.
“We’ll stabilize the banks of Wildcat Creek by adding rock along the water’s edge, installing a log vane to channel water toward the center of the stream, and improving grading,” Dunwoody Stormwater Engineer Cody Dallas said. “We’ll also remove invasive plant species from existing wetlands and plant native vegetation to restore the native forested wetland habitat.”
Construction, led by Steel and Associates, is expected to last for approximately six months. The project is being funded through the city’s stormwater reserve and a $600,000 grant.
