Any day now for DeKalb PATH trail construction?
February 1, 2008 at 1:47 pm by Thomas Wheatley in NewsYou’d think that building bike trails wouldn’t be such a controversial issue.
But a planned PATH trail through a mature hardwood forest between Medlock and Mason Mill parks in Decatur has residents irked not only at the idea, but what they call the lack of public input that went into the project. Members of Three Forks Heritage Alliance have proposed alternatives to the trail’s location and asked for a halt to the project that they say will remove many trees lining the parks’ popular natural hiking path. The group has retained legal counsel and consultants and is seeking donations as well.
Commissioner Jeff Rader told residents that no construction would happen until Feb. 1, which — surprise! — is today. We’re watching to see if anything happens.
February 2nd, 2008 at 11:49 am
Thanks for bringing this ill-advised “PATH to nowhere” to the public’s attention.
At a time when DeKalb’s reputation as a safe place to live continues to take hits almost daily, and the CEO has ordered budget cuts across the board, including the Police Department; plans are to spend $600,000 on a 12′ wide, mostly concrete 1/2 mile PATH right through one of the few remaining stands of old-growth trees ITP.
This PATH only goes from Miedlock Park to a old bridge in the middle of Medlock Park. It does not provide alternate transportation vs. cars.
PATH has built some great bike/walk/stroller trails. But this one, if allowed to proceed, will give it a black eye.
A compromise trail, hand built using river rock, would be much better. But, the dirt trails there now work just fine. There’s plenty of paved surfaces nearby for road bikes, baby strollers, and skateboarders.
inDECATUR.org has several posts which explain in further detail while this is the wrong PATH, in the wrong place, at the wrong time.
Those who agree: Please contribute $5 or more to the Three Rivers Heritage Alliance ASAP so an attorney can get an injunction to stop the bulldozers from plowing down 1.6 acres of woodland (the estimated area to be occupied by the PATH and the necessary grading so it meets 5 degree maximum grade standards.