Proposed bridge over the Chattahoochee River divides Cobb residents

By Mary Lou Pickel

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A proposed foot bridge over the Chattahoochee River to connect Sandy Springs with national park land in east Cobb has drawn hundreds of comments from supporters and detractors.

More than 560 people have contacted the National Park Service as of the latest round of comments received in mid-June.

“That is a lot for an issue,” said Dan Brown, superintendent of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.

Almost 400 people favor the $1.2 million bridge near the Morgan Falls dam, and about 130 oppose it, Brown said. Others had a mixture of views. Most in favor of the bridge want a safe place to ride bikes, Brown said. Currently there is no money identified to pay for the bridge.

Some opposed to the bridge worry that crime from Fulton County will migrate over the bridge to Cobb County, Brown said. “Some fear a bridge — even if it’s a pedestrian bridge,” he said.

Others worry that mountain bikers would ride off-trail, damaging park land, Brown said. At least 90 people from east Cobb oppose the bridge and bike access, he said.

Brown has come up with a new list of five proposals for the land north of Johnson Ferry Road. They include making no changes at all; making limited improvements to foot paths; creating wider foot and bike paths with small bridges over creeks in east Cobb; adding a bridge over the Chattahoochee for pedestrians only with improved foot trails; and finally building a bridge over the river with both pedestrian and bike trails and small bridges over creeks.

Brown plans to schedule another public meeting in the fall before picking a plan.