The Path Foundation and City of Decatur have approved the Dearborn Park Trail extension without exploring the area or making any guarantees that they will protect the environmentally sensitive area. Dearborn Park Tail is home to Blue Herons Barred Owls, rabbits, amphibians, a couple of Snapping Turtles and the occasional coyote.

 

The Path Foundation and City of Decatur have approved the Dearborn Park Trail extension without exploring the area or making any guarantees that they will protect the environmentally sensitive area. Dearborn Park Tail is home to Blue Herons Barred Owls, rabbits, amphibians, a couple of Snapping Turtles and the occasional coyote.
City of Decatur approved this project as part of  sponsorship of the Path Foundation for the Bicycle and Pedestrian Connectivity Master Plan. The plan included Dearborn Park Trail and was based on a 20-year old DeKalb plan. It has been confirmed  DeKalb County was not contacted and even though the proposed trail goes through a large portion of unincorporated DeKalb.
Ed McBrayer, Executive Director, Path Foundation, indicated DeKalb residents outside of Decatur had their input, albeit back in DeKalb 2020 plan that was completed 17 years ago. He said that was sufficient input.
 A few concerns includ,  when the path is built, there should be remediation of the surrounding area. When I spoke with Greta DeMayo, Principal Owner, Kaizen Collaborative, she confirmed that this is not a priority of the Path Foundation and it may or may not occur. The area around the pervious path that was built by City of Decatur in Dearborn has, for the last 5 years, left the surrounding area as a mosquito laden swamp.
Friends of Dearborn Park volunteers have concentrated on the front of Dearborn park and the at the Catherine street entrance, including installing a Little Free Library.  City of Decatur nor DeKalb County have assisted in the maintenance of the area adjacent to the path
Shoal Creek runs through this area and the runoff produced from a cement pathway can be detrimental to this fragile creek. We need assurances that the wildlife that lives there now will not be harmed. There are 2 Blue Herons in the park along with several Owls, rabbits, amphibians and a couple of Snapping Turtles.
Done right, Dearborn Park Trail could be our own little Atlanta Beltline or Westside Atlanta Beltline, yet retain the natural path that is within the park as well. Let’s hope the City of Decatur and more importantly Path Foundation do the right thing.
For more information contact: FriendsOfDearbornPark@gmail.com or find us on FACEBOOK