Bridge proposal splits communities’ opinions

A proposed footbridge that would allow dog-walkers, runners and possibly mountain bikers and other cyclists to cross the Chattahoochee River is stirring emotions on both sides of the waterway.

The bridge, proposed by the National Park Service, would connect densely populated north Fulton County to thousands of acres of national park holdings in east Cobb County. An initial public meeting is Thursday.

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Hyosub Shin/hshin@ajc.com

Linda Hodges, who lives in an east Cobb neighborhood, says she is concerned about the environmental impact of a footbridge over the Chattahoochee proposed by the National Park Service.

The idea has received early and enthusiastic support from officials in Sandy Springs, the proposed landing on the east bank of the river. The reception among immediate neighbors in east Cobb has been chilly.

Sandy Springs plans to develop a waterfront park, with amenities such as a fishing pier, but many details aren’t final. That has some Cobb residents asking, “What’s in it for us?” said Bob Ott, a Cobb County commissioner, along with worrying about potential for increased traffic.

“I wouldn’t be willing to support something if there’s nothing Cobb County is getting out of it,” he said.

The Sandy Springs Conservancy, a nonprofit greenspace organization, has provided funds for an environmental assessment, which requires several public meetings. The first will be 7 p.m. Thursday at the Chattahoochee Nature Center in Roswell.

Linda Bain, the conservancy’s executive director, said a connection will allow residents on both sides of the river to access recreational lands. “We think the traffic is going to be balanced both ways,” she said.

The bridge is expected to cost $1.2 million.

The park service, which would own and maintain the span, is considering seeking a federal grant that would require matching amounts from the communities — or $300,000 from both Cobb and Sandy Springs, said Dan Brown, superintendent of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.

The bridge would allow connectivity between national and community park holdings on either side of the river, Brown said. As part of the proposal, the park service would create connecting trails among its other riverfront parcels.

“This is not going to be a bridge to nowhere,” Brown said.

When the park service discusses conceptual plans for the bridge Thursday, Brown expects to hear divided opinion. At a second meeting, to be scheduled sometime this fall, the park service will present alternative plans, design possibilities and potential locations, based on feedback from residents, Brown said.

Some Cobb residents contend the bridge will damage the environmental quality of the riverfront and primarily benefit Fulton County. Some opponents say they are not necessarily averse to walkers or hikers but do not want mountain bikers cutting trails through the woodlands.

Linda Hodges, who has lived in an east Cobb neighborhood near the river for nearly 40 years, is worried about the potential for ecological damage in a sensitive area. “They won’t stay on the trails,” she said. “The mountain biker is looking for a challenge. They’ll take off in the woods.”

Another resident, Joni House, has similar concerns, citing the potential for soil erosion and habitat destruction. “Pedestrians are a different story,” she said. “It’s the mountain bikers that are the issue.”

Although he has already heard some opposition from Cobb, Brown emphasized the bridge would provide greater access to national parkland, which happens to be in Cobb. “It is a property for all residents,” he said.