Sandy Springs has 22 miles fronting the Chattahoochee River, but the only public entry point is a remote and undeveloped stretch of dirt and gravel.

That's about to change in a big way.

(ENLARGE)

Phil Skinner/AJC (ENLARGE)

Sandy Springs officials hope to lure folks to Morgan Falls Park and the Chattahoochee River with millions in improvements.

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The city is preparing to invest several million dollars in its only riverfront property, Morgan Falls Park, and hopes to eventually connect its parkland to green space in other communities.

Anticipated park improvements include expanded access to the riverfront, a renovated boat ramp, a children's play area and a fishing pier. The plan also prepares for the potential of a pedestrian bridge crossing the river to national park holdings in Cobb County.

The National Park Service, which manages the river, plans to discuss a pedestrian crossing with interested parties this summer, said Dan Brown, superintendent of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. "It's definitely worth sitting down with the stakeholders and seeing where everybody is on it," Brown said. "And where the level of support is for it."

The concept was proposed several years ago by the former national park superintendent, according to the Sandy Springs Conservancy, a non-profit that has worked since 2001 to coordinate park improvements.

For Sandy Springs, a city of 90,000, the opportunity for a cross-county connection is exciting, said Councilwoman Ashley Jenkins. "You're starting to see the links between the green spaces, which is what people have been clamoring for," she said.

The Sandy Springs council on Tuesday is expected to consider a master plan for its side of the river, as well as a budget that could provide $5 million in park improvements in the coming year.

During the next several years, the city hopes to invest as much as $11 million in Morgan Falls.

The Sandy Springs Conservancy is prepared to work with the city in planning for park improvements, said Executive Director Linda Bain. The conservancy has raised funds for amenities, such as a kayak and canoe dock, a boathouse and storage facility, hiking trails and an events pavilion. The conservancy also has funds for the design and environmental assessment for a footbridge to Cobb, if the various parties agree to pursue it.

"This park has been a glimmer in many, many people's eyes for a long time," Bain told council members last week, as they reviewed initial drawings. "It will be a remarkable resource for the city."

The riverfront portion of the park is just south of Morgan Falls Dam, on land the city controls through a long-term lease from Georgia Power. Initially, this area will see parking and drainage improvements.

It's now a weed-infested, clay-dirt parking area with a small boat ramp. In warm weather, it attracts people who know about it – such as teenagers who swim in the river or jump into it from nearby rock cliffs.

Last week, a group of friends had mixed reactions to the city's plans. "What's nice about it is not many people know about it," said Skyler Ruckers, 17, of Roswell.

When he was told of the city plans for family-friendly amenities, including riverfront bench swings, 17-year-old Nathan Hardy remarked: "That would definitely push out the teenagers."

Others were more enthusiastic. "Anything that gets people outside in nature, outside, is a good thing. Bring people down to the river," said Marshall Seedorff, 18, of Marietta.

Beyond the riverfront, the greater parkland includes woodlands on a bluff overlooking the Chattahoochee. This section would have trails offering river views and a dedicated space for large and small dog parks.

Near the main entrance, existing baseball and football fields would be reconfigured to create more playing fields. The park's ballfields alone are expected to have $3 million in improvements.

Sandy Springs has parks with walking trails and other forms of passive recreation. But it has little in the way of active recreation, said Rusty Paul, a city councilman.

"Morgan Falls is crucial because it's the one park where we have recreational ballfields for our kids," he said. "We need to be able to provide for our kids, within our own community."

The city Web site has the master plan proposal on its home page. It's at www.sandyspringsga.org.