Mercer University has officially declined to grant the easement for the proposed concrete bike road through the Henderson Mill Creek floodplain. This decision ensures that the wilderness remains undisturbed and protected from unnecessary development. Your engagement was instrumental in securing this outcome for our community.
January 14, 2024
Final supporters
PATH/Dekalb are planning to build a concrete bike route through the Henderson Mill Creek floodplain (specified in the "Mercer Trail Study.") Mercer owns the majority of this property, and is currently deciding whether or not they will allow the construction to proceed on this land.
This floodplain should remain undisturbed -- an undeveloped wilderness, open to individual exploration on foot by those interested in the habitat.
There are a multitude of reasons for opposing PATH's bike road through the HMC floodplain. A few include:
- It is highly invasive and will be destructive to the floodplain.
- Regardless of the terms PATH/Dekalb use ("trail," "path") this is essentially a road - 12' wide concrete with cleared area on both sides. We do not need nor want a bike road through the floodplain.
- The floodplain is very narrow. This area cannot tolerate this type of disturbance without fundamentally changing its nature.
- The bike road will be very intrusive to the residential area backing it. Issues of noise, privacy and security will all be raised, and home values will be lowered due to loss of the currently private and secluded wilderness backing the neighborhood.
- The ingress/egress routes are planned for quiet dead-end streets, and will greatly impact the adjacent homes as well as the rest of the residences on these streets.
- This is a FEMA AE rated floodzone throughout, with a total of 75' riparian setback required by the combined state and county laws. No development should be done here, including this proposed bike road.
- There is an alternative for an east-west biking route from Tucker to Mercer: Flowers Road. If a bike route is needed, it should be put along this quiet, wide, and pretty street instead of through the floodplain.
Do not pursue constructing this concrete bike road through the Henderson Mill Creek floodplain!
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
December 8, 2023
November 10, 2023
The focus remains on preserving the Henderson Mill Creek floodplain as an undisturbed wilderness rather than a site for paved development. Local residents continue to provide valuable insights regarding the environmental risks and the impact on our neighborhood privacy. We are currently working to ensure these concerns reach the decision makers at Mercer.
Reached 100 supporters
October 24, 2023
October 23, 2023
The number of signatures is nearing one hundred. Please post this link to your social media accounts to ensure our message reaches those who have not yet engaged with this issue.
105 Comments
We need to be preserving our green spaces and REDUCING impervious surfaces, not adding them. The metro Atlanta urban areas NEED these green spaces to mitigate the effects of climate change -- lowering air temperatures, reducing CO2, mitigating storm water. Do NOT damage this fragile ecosystem that supports so much life.
Wetlands need to be protected. So much wildlife depends on it. I typically support bike paths and trails but not when they are compromising a vulnerable habitat.
I grew up playing in this area. As a young teenager I was able to safely ride my bik from Leslie Beach Club to the 7-11 on Shallowford Rd. This plan stands to disrupt a peaceful natural area, bring trash, and cost the people lots of money to maintain the structure. As this site claims, there are other alternatives.
Thomas, thank you for asking about an Environmental Impact Study (EIS) and hydrogeologic study. I am a retired environmental engineer and wondered the same thing ( and forgot to question if it had been done to my comments).
This concrete trail is more like a road that would be coming through the backyards of my neighbors across the street and destroy the wetlands and serenity of the area. It would bring traffic, noise, strangers roaming the neighborhood, possibly criminals and devalue the properties of those directly affected.
I am totally against this project. You will be destroying wildlife.
Please use the alternative. Thank you.
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Mercer University has officially declined to grant the easement for the proposed concrete bike road through the Henderson Mill Creek floodplain. This decision ensures that the wilderness remains undisturbed and protected from unnecessary development. Your engagement was instrumental in securing this outcome for our community.
January 14, 2024
Final supporters
PATH/Dekalb are planning to build a concrete bike route through the Henderson Mill Creek floodplain (specified in the "Mercer Trail Study.") Mercer owns the majority of this property, and is currently deciding whether or not they will allow the construction to proceed on this land.
This floodplain should remain undisturbed -- an undeveloped wilderness, open to individual exploration on foot by those interested in the habitat.
There are a multitude of reasons for opposing PATH's bike road through the HMC floodplain. A few include:
- It is highly invasive and will be destructive to the floodplain.
- Regardless of the terms PATH/Dekalb use ("trail," "path") this is essentially a road - 12' wide concrete with cleared area on both sides. We do not need nor want a bike road through the floodplain.
- The floodplain is very narrow. This area cannot tolerate this type of disturbance without fundamentally changing its nature.
- The bike road will be very intrusive to the residential area backing it. Issues of noise, privacy and security will all be raised, and home values will be lowered due to loss of the currently private and secluded wilderness backing the neighborhood.
- The ingress/egress routes are planned for quiet dead-end streets, and will greatly impact the adjacent homes as well as the rest of the residences on these streets.
- This is a FEMA AE rated floodzone throughout, with a total of 75' riparian setback required by the combined state and county laws. No development should be done here, including this proposed bike road.
- There is an alternative for an east-west biking route from Tucker to Mercer: Flowers Road. If a bike route is needed, it should be put along this quiet, wide, and pretty street instead of through the floodplain.
Do not pursue constructing this concrete bike road through the Henderson Mill Creek floodplain!
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
December 8, 2023
November 10, 2023
The focus remains on preserving the Henderson Mill Creek floodplain as an undisturbed wilderness rather than a site for paved development. Local residents continue to provide valuable insights regarding the environmental risks and the impact on our neighborhood privacy. We are currently working to ensure these concerns reach the decision makers at Mercer.
Reached 100 supporters
October 24, 2023
October 23, 2023
The number of signatures is nearing one hundred. Please post this link to your social media accounts to ensure our message reaches those who have not yet engaged with this issue.
105 Comments
Please save this important habitat for wildlife. Birders, in particular, regularly visit this area to enjoy the diversity of birds that rely on this space.
We need to be preserving our green spaces and REDUCING impervious surfaces, not adding them. The metro Atlanta urban areas NEED these green spaces to mitigate the effects of climate change -- lowering air temperatures, reducing CO2, mitigating storm water. Do NOT damage this fragile ecosystem that supports so much life.
Wetlands need to be protected. So much wildlife depends on it. I typically support bike paths and trails but not when they are compromising a vulnerable habitat.
I grew up playing in this area. As a young teenager I was able to safely ride my bik from Leslie Beach Club to the 7-11 on Shallowford Rd. This plan stands to disrupt a peaceful natural area, bring trash, and cost the people lots of money to maintain the structure. As this site claims, there are other alternatives.
Thomas, thank you for asking about an Environmental Impact Study (EIS) and hydrogeologic study. I am a retired environmental engineer and wondered the same thing ( and forgot to question if it had been done to my comments).
This concrete trail is more like a road that would be coming through the backyards of my neighbors across the street and destroy the wetlands and serenity of the area. It would bring traffic, noise, strangers roaming the neighborhood, possibly criminals and devalue the properties of those directly affected.
I am totally against this project. You will be destroying wildlife.
Please use the alternative. Thank you.
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Please save this important habitat for wildlife. Birders, in particular, regularly visit this area to enjoy the diversity of birds that rely on this space.