PATH and Dekalb County have started a beautiful bike trail along South Peachtree Creek, linking Medlock Park and Mason Mill Park. A small group of neighbors have fought the completion of this trail and we are tired of them trying to hijack this project.
I live in an area highly impacted by this trail. I kept an open mind about the project during the entire course of its construction. Neither for nor against.
ReplyDeleteNow that it is being used regularly, I am completely disapponted in the fundamental change to the character of my property.
The reason I purchased my property was the quiet and privacy afforded by the woods. I can ignore the constant traffic on the street, so long as I can have my secluded yard. Well now that the path is there I have to keep my shades drawn otherwise people are able to see in where as before only birds and squirrels trod.
The trail is only an amenity if you chose the house based upon its proximity to the trail. Not if it was rammed in where only nature existed previously. To me it is a blight on my former beautiful natural view and an unwelcome invitation to prying eyes, noise and traffic.
As a result, I'll be selling my house as soon as the market picks back up. Anyone is welcome to put your money where your mouth is and come buy my house so you can be close to the trail you love so much.
To the previous commenter who referred to the trail as being a blight:
ReplyDeleteI am sorry that your "natural view" was disturbed, and I gather from your post that you either live adjacent to Mason Mill Park or close to the creek or sewer line coming off Willivee. I've walked the trail many times and the only way individuals would be looking into your home is if you built too close to the creek or you clear cut your entire back yard all the way down to the water, or both. As such I have no sympathy for you. You are what I refer to as a NIMBY (Not in My Back Yard).
I also assume you have always had access to Mason Mill park from your property. Whether you realize it or not, one of the benefits for everyone is that they can now access Mason Mill whereas before they would need to get in their cars and drive there.
You are arguing that the trail is only an amenity if you chose a house based upon its proximity to the trail. And your are correct, because I too live within sight of the trail and, unlike you, I love it. I say the closer you are the better. Why don't you try using the trail once and you may see just how well it blends in with its surroundings.
Heck, go ahead and sell your house, I'm certain the new owners will immediately recognize and appreciate the benefits of being close to such a great trail. (P.S. you will also notice how the trail has increased your property value...hmmmmm)
I am a Medlock Park resident and to me the PATH boardwalk/trail is beautiful and a lovely and needed addition to our neighborhood. We look forward to the day when all this angst is passed ... it's really getting old and the trail is available for all to enjoy!
ReplyDeleteTo anonymous, Sorry but the trail will not enhance your property value, I can assure you. I lived on one of the other trail disaster that Path did and lost money on my house when I sold, so you are dead wrong!!!
ReplyDeleteTo previous commenter:
ReplyDeleteIt looks like no matter where you move, you find yourself close to a PATH trail....so....why not actually try it and enjoy it! And just because your property value didn't go up doesn't mean that it doesn't have that effect. But since there is probably no evidence either way, we can agree to disagree.
Help a concerned local resident to understand the following position that pro-Path supporters are trying to make:
ReplyDeleteWe need to save The PATH to connect Medlock Park with Mason Mill Park so people can have access to both parks without having to drive a car to either park.
The reality is that two parks already were connected before PATH decided to lay waste to the forest. Even today there are many entrances to the trail, Desmond Drive and Willivee Place are just two entrances. As a supporter of PATH, if you are so fond of concrete walking trails then entering the park from a city street shouldn't be a problem for you, right?
Admittedly, finding these trail heads can be difficult, but we could have spent far less money than that used for the destructive PATH project to promote these trail heads, i.e. park entrance signs, park maps, park service tours, local promotions etc.
We also should have used taxpayer funds to preserve the park so our children and our children's children can enjoy it as well. Last I checked preservation of a green space doesn't begin or end with importing yards and yards of concrete - not to mention the extensive clear-cutting that has happened in some sections of the woods of Mason Mill Park. We also could have used public taxpayer funds to pay for routine policing for the area making it safer for all residents to use.
The goal of the DeKalb County green space initiative should be to maintain the natural beauty of the green space by curtailing/minimizing destruction while opening up the park to all residents.
In summation - can a pro-PATH supporter please answer the following questions:
Why does the trail have to be concrete?
What was wrong with the trail before PATH came along, and how did PATH correct it?
Saying people had to drive to Mason Mill Park from Medlock is ridiculous. I live over 2 miles away and have walked and biked there several times. My route was along N. Druid Hill Rd. Notoriously one of the busiest roads in Central Dekalb. If I can walk there then certainly anyone near Medlock park can walk down Desmond to Melton Park and enter there or even via Clairmont. How one chooses to get somewhere is their choice. I think there should have always been an entrance on Willivee, but a 14 foot wide linear treefort is not necessary. There still is not sign signaling that this is a public Dekalb County Park on Willivee.
ReplyDeleteIf I were to buy a house next to public land I might expect the public to want to use and enjoy that land. The woods are beautiful and for most of us it is the houses which are the eyesore. The entrances to the earlier dirt paths were so hidden as to be impossible to find, and sometimes even purposely blocked by cut brush. I really enjoy the new trail and feel sorry that some close neighbors feel so strongly that they want it torn out! That kind of self interest really limits you! Bad Karma! Get real and join us out there instead! Oh yeah, and let's hope all of us can step out of our caves and have a nice day, every one!
ReplyDeleteA Dekalb Resident
The trail in it's current state is a lawsuit waiting to happen. the boards are not nailed down and pose a severe threat to people who don't know the situation. The makeshift bridge across the ravine is another danger. Please finish the trail before someone gets hurt.
ReplyDeleteWe need to get this PATH completed. Even those against it are loosing now. What purpose resulted from their efforts to close down the final 35 yards? An uncompleted PATH mightlower property values since those moving in from other states or parts of Atlanta might wonder why the PATH was never finished. In its current state, lack of maintenance and ground upkeep will lead to deterioration and graffiti. Is this what the opponents want? PATH is going to maintain the boardwalk and cement path. This includes keeping the PATH clean. Neither PATH or the contractor are allowed to do ANYTHING with the PATH. I hope those on Willivee Pl are enjoying the entrance to the work site. This was to be brought back to a natural state as was the access road. But there will be no money spent by either the contractor or PATH due to the law suit. So there it sits. This beautiful peaceful resource without 35 stinkin' yards. Shameful.
ReplyDeleteWalked the beautiful PATH yesterday and there it was vandalism and graffiti. How sad. We need this great resource completed so PATH can maintain it. But alas our "wise" friends at 3 forks know best.......... Thanks folks for your tremendous insight into fighting the final 35 yards. Your flawed thought process is truly inspiring.
ReplyDeleteRecently someone (maybe the contractor?) managed to fasten down and secure the remaining floor boards that were laying loose on the end of the boardwalk section. Last night we were delighted to discover that they'd built a more permanent, small bridge over to the ground so that it is easier to walk through the unfinished portion over to the paved section. This is a huge relief. It makes what is there much more functional (in the absence of a completed bridge, which would be much more favorable!) and certainly a lot less dangerous. I don't know how (or if) they got permission to do that, but thank goodness they did!!!
ReplyDeleteI heard it was one of our neighbors who did it to protect the children who play on it.
ReplyDeleteThanks to whoever it was...
It would be nice to know that our neighborhood might have a hero that values the safety of children. The courts certainly failed them...
Yes, a great BIG thanks (and good job) to whoever it was. I was afraid to make a move like that (for fear of lawsuit by Three Forks or other), but we certainly mused aloud many a day about how we'd like to just go down there with a drill and such...we were too chicken. Really super job and way to step up.
ReplyDelete