New Section Of Big Creek Greenway Now Open

CUMMING, GA — The newest section of Forsyth County’s Big Creek Greenway is now open for use.

The new stretch of the popular multi-use trail, referred to as Phase 4, extends the Greenway by about 2.8 miles -- making the total length of the trail roughly 9.6 miles.

The new section begins at the Bethelview Road trailhead and generally runs northward along Big Creek,

then parallel to Kelly Mill Road, ending at Johnson Road.

The project was funded by a parks, recreation and green space bond approved by voters in 2008.

"The Big Creek Greenway in Forsyth County is a very popular amenity, and we are excited to open up

this new phase for use," said Parks & Recreation director Jim Pryor. "We are sincerely appreciative of the voters’ support in 2008 of the Parks, Recreation and Green Space Bond that made this new section of the trail possible.”

District 3 Commissioner Todd Levent, in whose district the new trail section is located, commented on the topography of the new phase.

"In some areas of the new phase, due to the lay of the land on which we needed to build, there is a bit of a slope or incline," said Levent. "I have heard from some constituents that this will be welcomed from the perspective of providing a greater workout challenge. I have also heard from some constituents who had some concerns about the incline. To that end, we are considering the possibility of adding a spur in this area in the future that could potentially provide an alternative for those looking for a more family-friendly route."

Due to the Bethelview Road bridge widening work currently in progress, those utilizing the newly-opened section of the Greenway will notice a temporary segment of the trail in the area of the bridge construction work.

In this area, the trail narrows from its typical 12-foot width to about 8 feet wide, with an overhead clearance of approximately nine to 10 feet. This temporary section is expected to remain in use for approximately two years, for the duration of the bridge construction.

Trail users are asked to exercise caution in this area.