The City of Sandy Springs isn’t the only organization building paths and trails in the northern Atlanta suburb.
With the help of the Chattahoochee National Park Conservancy, the National Park Service, and private donations, the Island Ford Unit of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (CRNRA) increased its trail mileage by nearly 50% in western Sandy Springs and southern Cobb County.
The Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area spans 7,000 acres along 48 miles of waterway, with the Island Ford Unit serving as its headquarters. The National Park Service prioritizes outdoor activities and sports within its recreation areas, while focusing on the preservation of ecosystems in national parks like the Great Smoky Mountains.
The July 1 ribbon-cutting was step one in kicking off the new comprehensive trail plan.
Expanded trail, new routes
From Buford Dam at Lake Lanier to Peachtree Creek in Atlanta, the National Park Service plans to add 33 miles of “safer, more sustainable and enjoyable” trails in the future.
The National Park Foundation chipped in $200,000, contingent on a fundraising match from the Chattahoochee National Park Conservancy. More than 160 private donations, ranging from $10 to $30,000, also helped with fundraising for the new trails.
K. Lynn Berry, named the new superintendent of the CRNRA in May, said the project’s kickoff at Island Ford allows visitors to easily navigate the park without heading off into protected areas.
“This isn’t just patchwork; it’s 2.2 miles of new trail,” Berry said. “We’re taking this system of trails from about 4.8 to just about 7 [miles]. New routes, new experiences, plus the rehabilitated trail network, the bridges, the signage.”
According to Berry, there are two types of hikers: “full loop people” and “out-and-back purists.” She falls into the former category, preferring loops. The Island Ford Unit, bordering Sandy Springs, Roswell, and Dunwoody, features both.
“None of this happened because one organization decided to make it happen,” Berry said. “It happened because the National Park Service brought planning and the stewardship and the technical expertise, and the Chattahoochee National Park Conservancy, along with this community, brought the philanthropy, the volunteer hours, the advocacy, and the hard work.”
Park revamp
Despite the sweltering heat on an early July morning, a couple of residents were hiking along the revamped trail system. With friends visiting from California, a father and son took them to the closest national recreation area to Atlanta. They said it’s much cooler along the river.
Brittany Jones, executive director of the Chattahoochee National Park Conservancy, said while the project broke ground earlier this year, her staff has been working on it since January 2024.
“This is a very historic moment for our organization,” Jones said. “The Island Ford trails project represents the largest single project in the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. It’s coming in just shy of half a million dollars. The lessons we have learned here will help shape future trail improvements across the entire park.”
Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul, who attended the July 1 ribbon-cutting, said there’s also been progress toward phase one of the Roberts Drive side path, which runs from Dunwoody Place over State Route 400 to Summer Crossing. It will eventually connect directly to Island Ford Parkway.
After community feedback, the city council approved a roughly $900,000 contract with AtkinsRealis to design phase one of the 12-foot-wide, multi-use path. A mid-block crossing is planned for the entrance to CRNRA headquarters.
Phase two of the Roberts Drive multi-use path runs from Island Ford Park northwest to Roswell Road (SR 9) just south of the Chattahoochee River.
