A park off South Columbia Drive, just beyond Decatur’s southeast city limits, is closer to completion, along with a 1.1-mile trail emanating from the park and getting developed by the PATH Foundation.
The park is roughly two acres according to Michele Ritan, director for East Decatur Greenway, which owns the land that for about a half century held a gas station. Remediation was completed in December with the removal of 2,026.99 tons of contaminated soil and 1,500 gallons of contaminated water.
Ritan said that strategic planning will determine the park’s configuration including a possible community garden and a wildlife preserve, which several nearby schools have requested.
Construction of the trail should begin in late June and take about four months. The trail, 12 feet wide and almost all off road, will temporarily end in the MARTA parking lot off East College Avenue, the site for Columbia Ventures’ mixed-use development. Eventually it will end at a pedestrian/cycling plaza leading to the overpass crossing College.
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