On June 2 the Chattahoochee National Park Conservancy kicked off the Island Ford Trail Project, an overhaul of the National Recreation Area’s 66 miles of trails. It’s the single largest project in the nonprofit conservancy’s history and the first phase of a pioneering trail management plan.
From June to December, a professional trail crew will rebuild existing social trails to modern sustainable standards at the Island Ford Unit. The 2.2 miles of new construction will resurface and repair existing trails, control erosion, mark routes clearly and redesign the trailhead at the visitor center.
It’s a safety and sustainability-focused overhaul. The popular Chattahoochee National Recreation Area is one of the country’s most visited national parks, with about 3 million people coming through the trails each year. But the National Park System “inherited” the trails in 1978, and there’s never been a formal effort to create a new system.
“When CRNRA became part of the National Park System in 1978, it inherited a web of informal, user-created trails that were never designed for the growing visitation this park has seen in the last 47 years,” the Conservancy’s Executive Director Brittany Jones said.
Most of the trails are made of old roads and utility corridors or social trails worn down over time by common visitor paths. None are official or up to typical trail safety standards. In 2022, the park created its first-ever Comprehensive Trails Management Plan to overhaul and repair the paths.
The 20-year plan will cost about $10 million total. According to park leaders, the restoration plan is the most “cost-effective” and impactful way to tackle over $53 million in deferred maintenance costs.
The conservancy is using a phased approach to tackle the 66-mile Chattahoochee River trail system. Phase one began in early 2024 with architecture and engineering plans led by Alta Planning + Design. Phase two will take on the first construction chunk at Island Ford Unit.
“A network of sustainable trails both improving the current network as well as expanding it will provide multiple benefits to park users and park managers,” Atlanta Planning + Design Principal Britt Storck said. “Working together, the team was able to achieve project goals of providing low-impact trail design, reducing maintenance demands, all while connecting visitors to the natural assets at Island Ford.”
The plan begins at Island Ford Unit, where the Chattahoochee National Recreation Area headquarters and visitor center are based. The conservancy called it a “visible and strategic opportunity” to set a new trail standard.
So far, funds and donations from the National Park Foundation and private donors have helped the Conservancy pay for the project. The nonprofit organization is the primary philanthropic partner for the National Recreation Area.
The completed first phase cost $140,000. Phase two, the trail construction will cost about $700,0000. The conservancy has partial funding but is “currently raising” the rest of the cash.
Chattahoochee National Recreation Area and noticed how heavily trafficked its trails were. It’s great to see a focused effort on improving safety and sustainability for such a popular outdoor spot. Trails that were once informal and worn can greatly benefit from professional upgrades like those described in the Island Ford Trail Project. Outdoor spaces need careful maintenance to both protect nature and enhance visitor experience. After a nice hike, I often like to relax with a fun game, and I’d recommend trying Block Blast as an entertaining way to unwind.