Work by the South Fork Conservancy and Volunteers Continues to Restore Neighborhood Waterway
ATLANTA, GA (October 28, 2018) – Rubber ducks raced through Peavine Creek on Sunday as part of the 6th annual Open Streets event in Emory Village. People gathered on the bridge across North Decatur Road to see which three lucky ducks would win. The event “was a celebration of the successful ongoing restoration of Peavine Creek and the reemergence of the creek as a central component of this neighborhood,” said Kimberly Estep, Executive Director of the South Fork Conservancy, the group which has spearheaded much of the creek’s revival.
In fact, before Sunday, many residents were not even aware of Peavine Creek’s existence. Likely named after the wild peas that grew in patches along the creek during the time of European settlement, this small tributary flows into Peachtree Creek and then the Chattahoochee, ultimately emptying into the Gulf of Mexico. Peavine’s urban headwaters, although subject to past conservation efforts, have recently fallen into disrepair. Kudzu has festooned creekbanks and trash has floated in this small waterway.
Along with community members and partners from Boy Scout Troop 18, Cub Scout Pack 6 and Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church, South Fork Conservancy has been working to clean up this neglected waterway. Kudzu removal and trash pickups have helped to make the area friendlier to wildlife. As people watched the duck race during Open Streets Emory Village, they also appreciated the revival of an important urban waterway.
South Fork Conservancy staff and community members were on hand to judge the winners of the race and to make sure that all rubber ducks were safely collected from the creek. One of the judges was Becky Evans, the State Representative-elect for the district that includes Emory Village; many attendees enjoyed seeing their elected official knee-deep in the water, catching stray ducks. Approximately 60 people participated in the duck race, taking a break from other festival activities that included model trains running throughout Emory Village.
While the Peavine duck race was a success, there is always more work to do. “We hope more property owners along Peavine will allow our volunteers to remove invasive plants and improve wildlife habitat along the waterway,” said Estep. West of Emory Village, Peavine joins the South Fork of Peachtree Creek, along which most of the Conservancy’s trails run. Estep added: “Our celebration of Peavine is part of our broader vision for a connected, healthy watershed enjoyed by all Atlantans.”