Restoring the Flint River to its former glory near Atlanta

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Restoring the Flint River to its former glory near Atlanta

The Flint River snakes a 344-mile path from Atlanta's southern suburbs to Lake Seminole in southwest Georgia, its waters eventually draining into the Gulf of Mexico.

The headwaters of the 344-mile Flint River, Georgia’s second longest, are first visible in a seven-acre tract off Willingham Drive near College Park’s border with East Point in South Fulton County. The historic site is now dominated by colorful brush of pinks and purples, a mish-mash of tree varieties and chirping frogs.. STEVE SCHAEFER FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

A rendering of the College Park reserve of the Flint River. After 80 years of the river’s beginnings in metro Atlanta being obscured by development and expansion of the world’s busiest airport, south metro leaders are hoping to turn back the clock and make the Flint -- which runs through Fulton, Clayton and Fayette counties -- a quasi-Atlanta Beltline of trails, pocket parks and the nature preserve. FINDING THE FLINT / SPECIAL

Another view from the rendering of the Flint River preserve in College Park. “This is where it starts,” said Hannah Palmer, who heads Finding the Flint, a group dedicated to the river’s rebirth. “That’s why it’s such a symbolic site. From here is where it gets bigger and wilder.”FINDING THE FLINT / SPECIAL.

The headwaters won’t look like much of a river, even if the preserve is built, Palmer and others said. It’s more like a creek in College Park because it doesn’t pick up tributaries such as Mud and Sullivan creeks until it gets into Clayton County around Forest Park and Riverdale. STEVE SCHAEFER FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

The Flint, which runs all the way to the Florida border, was an integral part of the southside in the late 1800s and early 20th century, Palmer said. Mills and railroads were built around it and in 1909 Coca-Cola founder Asa Candler constructed the first Atlanta Speedway racetrack next to the headwaters. STEVE SCHAEFER FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

After the Atlanta Municipal Airport extended its runways across the river in the 1940s, the Flint began to disappear into pipes and culverts. Great stretches are buried under Hartsfield-Jackson’s runways and about 1.2 miles were fenced off in 2004 after construction of the airport’s fifth runway. STEVE SCHAEFER FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

Sam Urban (left) and Peter Whitehouse walk the land near the headwaters of the Flint River located on the MARTA property near the College Park station. STEVE SCHAEFER FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

College Park officials look over the headwaters of the Flint River located on MARTA property near the College Park station. In late April 2021, MARTA agreed to sell the Willingham tract to College Park for $218,000 for the nature preserve and an outdoor classroom.. STEVE SCHAEFER FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

The Flint River south of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, with the approach lights of the fifth runway in the background. AJC FILE

Past the airport, the Flint River winds through Clayton County and southward. AJC FILE

This map shows the path of the Flint River, which flows underneath Hartsfield-Jackson. SPECIAL TO AJC

2019 -- Gordon Rogers, Riverkeeper and Executive Director of Flint Riverkeeper, drives a boat on the Flint River near the Mitchell County Line Boat Ramp at the Decatur/Mitchell County line. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

2019 -- This aerial photograph shows the Flint River near the Mitchell County Line Boat Ramp at the Decatur/ Mitchell County line on Thursday, October 17, 2019. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

The Flint River in far southwest Georgia at Bainbridge. Photo courtesy of Bainbridge Convention & Visitors Bureau

2016 -- Drought and water consumption were part of the problem for near historic low water levels for the Flint River, shown here in Talbot County. BRANT SANDERLIN/BSANDERLIN@AJC.COM

Boys play in the Flint River at Sprewell Bluff State Park. in Thomaston. AJC FILE

A Bainbridge park along the Flint River. DAN CHAPMAN / AJC FILE

Along the Flint River south of the metro Atlanta area. The river is important to the ecosystem of middle and southwest Georgia. BRANT SANDERLIN/BSANDERLIN@AJC.COM

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The headwaters of the 344-mile Flint River, Georgia’s second longest, are first visible in a seven-acre tract off Willingham Drive near College Park’s border with East Point in South Fulton County. The historic site is now dominated by colorful brush of pinks and purples, a mish-mash of tree varieties and chirping frogs.. STEVE SCHAEFER FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

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