Noonday Creek Trail Extension Gets Regional Support

WOODSTOCK, GA -- As part of an update to its Transportation Improvement Plan, Atlanta Regional Commission staff members have recommended approval of funding for engineering and construction plans to extend the Noonday Creek Trail to Cobb County.

If the recommendation is approved by the ARC's board in 2018, it would provide funding for the project to extend the trail system from Highway 92 in Woodstock to Noonday Park on Hawkins Store Road near Kennesaw.

Work has been ongoing on the pre-engineering and alignment portion of the trail extension, which was awarded a study grant in 2016. The positive award of this new $2.5 million grant will result in an additional 2 miles of multi-use trail and connection into Cobb County. The grant is matched with 20-percent local funding through SPLOST and park impact fees, bringing the project total to almost $3 million.

Since the inception of the Greenprints Master Plan in 2008, nearly 30 miles of trails have been built in Woodstock, including the Taylor Randahl Mountain Park Trails at Olde Rope Mill Park and the first phase of the Noonday Creek Trail, which runs from Market Street in downtown Woodstock to Highway 92 and sees approximately 200,000 users per year.

The Towne Lake Pass Trail, which will connect the Towne Lake area with downtown with a path running from Woofstock Park to Woodstock Middle and High schools, will add another 2 miles to the network. This portion is scheduled to open in early 2018.

“Our focus on eco-tourism, including trails and passive park spaces, is really starting to take off,” said Mayor Donnie Henriques. “We are seeing these type of amenities as a driving factor in the decision for people to relocate or visit our area. Continued investment in this trail system is of utmost importance and we are excited to see ARC support those investments.”

In all, ARC is allocating $293 million in new federal transportation dollars through 2023 for projects across the region. With local matches of at least 20 percent, the total amount of new funding allocated in the TIP exceeds $400 million. Additional projects recommended in the Woodstock area include improvements to the I-575 interchange at Towne Lake Parkway, Highway 92 at Trickum Road intersection and further study of improvements to the Ridgewalk Parkway interchange on I-575.

Greenprints Board Chair and City Councilman-elect Colin Ake praised the ARC's recommendation.

"Greenprints Alliance is thrilled to see the news recommending funding for the Noonday Creek trail extension," he said. "We are fortunate to live in a region where our local governments cooperate well, and we'd like to extend our gratitude to the city of Woodstock, Cherokee County and Cobb County for their work to connect our trail systems. Congratulations to everyone involved."

ARC is soliciting public comment on the proposed plan, which can be submitted by clicking here.

Image via Woodstock Parks and Recreation