As part of their ambitious plan to create more parks and greenspace, Dunwoody leaders proposed a six-mile trail that would connect neighborhoods across the fledgling city.
They envisioned people using the trail to walk children to school, ride bikes to the grocery store or jog around the area.
But some nearby residents thought it was a poorly planned land grab that would bring down their property values.
So, after hearing from hundreds of indignant constituents, Dunwoody officials last week abandoned plans for the greenway corridor that would have run beneath Georgia Power transmission lines from Windwood Hollow Park to the North Springs MARTA station.
"We heard loud and clear from residents along the power easement that they weren't interested," said Brent Walker, the city's park director. "We don't want to be divisive. We want to bring the city together."
The greenway corridor was initially considered a "significant commuter link" in the city's comprehensive plan for parks, which includes artist renderings, spending projections and ideas for where to place water fountains and park spaces.
But the plan was poorly received by residents when they learned Dunwoody would need to take land from about 100 properties to make it work. City officials said they were willing to negotiate with residents, while opponents feared the city might resort to eminent domain to seize the land.
As many as 400 residents showed up at City Hall for a meeting in late February. People filled the council chambers and spilled outside of the building.
Dunwoody officials and council members said the overwhelming response made them back off the trail plan.
Councilman Danny Ross said they also didn't want the trail to detract from the rest of the plan, which includes other greenway corridors.
"One of the things we have to try to figure out is how to have connections among a very cul de sac-oriented community," he said. "This is one way, but we'll find other ways."
Residents who led the opposition were relieved but remained skeptical of the city's intentions.
"Just because we made them back down doesn’t mean that they really meant to," said Hugh Schutte, a resident of the Lake Kingsley area. "I think our show of power was enough to shut them up for the time being."
Putting a positive spin on the friction with residents, council members said the decision to drop the greenway was an example of responsive government.
"We are able to react to things quickly," councilman John Heneghan said. " We are a new city and we try to react to our citizen's input."
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