Sandy Springs wants a $3 million state grant for a 1.6-mile river trail from Morgan Falls Overlook Park to Grogans Ferry Road. It would cost about $14 million.
Updated Oct. 15: the City Council approved the pre-application 4-2 on Oct. 6, after 22 people signed up to speak. Read how the council voted.
Sandy Springs is asking the state for $3 million to build a 1.6-mile paved trail along the Chattahoochee River. The trail, Springway Segment 2C, would run from Morgan Falls Overlook Park to an existing sidepath at Grogans Ferry Road.
The City Council voted Oct. 6 on sending a pre-application to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. The request and the project’s costs are in the agenda packet for the Oct. 6 City Council meeting, item 2026-267.
The city’s most recent cost estimate, from January 2025, is $13,992,520.
What would be built
The staff presentation describes:
- a 12-foot-wide paved multi-use trail for walkers and cyclists
- boardwalk and bridge sections where the terrain and floodplain require them
- retaining walls and railings
- trailhead and wayfinding signs
- a 75-foot stream buffer, native woodland plantings and retained tree canopy
The trail would follow the river for its whole length. The memo said that stretch of river is “otherwise largely inaccessible to pedestrians and cyclists within the City.”
How it fits the trail network
Segment 2C would join Segment 2A at Morgan Falls Overlook Park. Segment 2A opened in 2025, linking the park to Roswell Road at Cimarron Parkway. It was funded with $3 million from the same state program, the presentation said.
Both are part of the city’s Trail Master Plan, adopted in October 2019 with the PATH Foundation and the Sandy Springs Conservancy. That plan calls for 31.4 miles of new trails and sidepaths connecting schools, parks, MARTA stations, neighborhoods and employers.
How it would be paid for
The Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program is funded from the state sales tax on outdoor sporting goods. Grants to cities run from $500,000 to $3 million. They cover up to 75% of a project, and the city must find at least 25%.
The city’s plan for the $13,992,520 cost:
| Source | Amount |
|---|---|
| State grant (requested) | $3,000,000 |
| City capital project fund | $6,995,775 |
| PATH Foundation | $1,000,000 |
| Sandy Springs Conservancy | $30,000 |
| Not yet identified | $2,966,745 |
The PATH Foundation and Conservancy money depends on the city winning the grant, the memo said. The remaining $2,966,745 would have to come from future city budgets. The city has spent $97,710 on design so far.
What residents told the city
The presentation cited the city’s recent parks survey, which drew 984 responses:
- paved multi-use trails ranked as the top need among park facilities
- 93% of respondents said parks and recreation improve their quality of life
- 62% said they would support up to $76 to $100 a year in additional taxes for parks and recreation
Riverfront trails and boardwalks topped the list of river access residents wanted, the presentation said.
The timeline
- Friday, Oct. 16: pre-applications are due to the state.
- Through December: state staff review and rank the projects.
- Spring 2027: cities learn whether they can move to the second round.
- May 28, 2027: second-round applications are due.
- Summer 2027: final awards are announced.
If the city does not apply this year, the memo said, construction would be delayed by at least a year, since the program runs on an annual cycle.
What it means for you
- The trail is not funded yet. A state award would cover about 21% of the cost.
- You can weigh in on trails and parks at the city’s next planning workshop for its new comprehensive plan and parks master plan. It runs 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, at the Conference Center at City Springs, 1 Galambos Way, the city said in its announcement.
- The council next meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, in the Studio Theatre at City Hall. The city takes public comment online as well.
- Our parks and trails guide covers the paths you can use today.
Have your say