July's Headwater Highlights

The Promise Of The Confluence Revealed

The Glade on the Confluence trail 

What a difference a year can make.  Where once privet, vines, weeds and underbrush choked the Confluence Trail (also known as the Cedar Chase Trail), there is a wonderful stillness framed by birdsong. In the middle of this peacefulness a community is growing!

Walking down the footpath, the South Fork of Peachtree Creek unexpectedly reveals itself to you on your left… a few steps further the path widens, revealing an inviting open space to your left- we call it the glade. However, just one year ago, the glade (and much of the trail) was obstructed by years of invasive plant growth.

“We used to walk on the trail before any work was done,” recalls Donna Davis, president of the Cedar Chase Condominium Association. “It was a wild tangle of underbrush and we didn’t have any way to restore the canopy.”

Thanks to Trees Atlanta and dedicated South Fork volunteers, this is no longer the case. Where invasive privet and vines once reigned, now young native trees point skyward.  Last fall saw the planting of $10,000 worth of saplings on the Confluence Trail, courtesy of NASCAR and CSX grants.

“This work has changed things on the trail,” says Donna. “It creates a promise where before there was a hope, and you can really see something happening. Now whenever I go down, I always see people- before the restoration, you didn’t really. Now they are going because it’s a semi-managed area while also being a natural green space in the city.

This summer’s lush growth has its challenges. After noticing a massive growth of vines threatening the saplings, Donna’s partner, Perry Kentrail, quickly cut them back. A couple of weeks later, Celia Lismore led a group of Accenture volunteers into the glade with swing blades.  See the picture above! Help us keep the promise of this restoration- let us know if you can help raise these saplings. 

 

 

Doe, A Deer Meets Bob The Beaver

Deer frolicking at Zonolite Park

First there was Bob the Beaver and co, then along came the turtles, ducks, and foxes… the number of animal sightings on South Fork trails only continues to increase. This time, neighbor Bob Scott spots a family of deer strolling down Armand Road, bound for the Confluence Trail.

“Watching the thunderstorm from my front window just now,” emails Bob. “Three deer at the intersection of Armand Road and Cardova Drive!”

And he’s not the only one. Other neighbors responded in kind, saying that they too have enjoyed the presence of the local deer in recent weeks. Prepare a nice habitat and they will come!  Let us know when see new members of our growing family. 

Summer 2014 Printed Newsletter

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This summer we happily published our first printed newsletter. Our e-newsletters (featured below) offer a great synopsis of South Fork happenings and the printed newsletters dive a little deeper to show our readers the big picture. Please enjoy the PDF of our Summer Newsletter by clicking on the image or download the PDF by clicking the link below

South Fork Conservancy Newsletter

Download Bob Kerr's Gazpacho Recipe Here.

June 2014 Newsletter

Dear Friend,
Welcome to the South Fork's June newsletter. It's a time of reflection and celebration, and here's a newsletter in that spirit. 
Enjoy some of our favorite before+after shots. Get behind a new name for a new trail... Cheshire Farm Trail.  Appreciate the design of our new trail sign.
As always, thanks for your continued support of The South Fork Conservancy. See you on the trail!

Meadow Loop Home To First Trailhead Sign

Michael Montgomery and James Lismore installed this goliath of a sign last week

A new sign post installed mid-June will help trail users find their way onto the Meadow Trail from Lindbergh Drive.

The design is a distinctive bundle of heavy sticks, spaced apart for visibility. Designer Susan Stainback of Sylvatica Studio wanted to evoke the Creek Indian past with an arrow notch at the top of the post.  Half a dozen map and graphic designers are collaborating on the watershed and road map to help people find their way along the completed and suggested trails. Gerlinda Grimes with Tucker Mott is using Sylvatica's base map with additions from the Atlanta Regional Commission's Allison Duncan and Byron Rushing.  "It is exciting to help create a map with creek trails that people actually need to find!"Gerlinda said. "The streets are familiar, but nobody knows quite where the creeks and trail heads are. It's good work."
Decatur woodworker Michael Montgomery built the prototype from Sylvatica's design and hefted it into place June 17, 2014.  James Lismore and wife Celia, South Fork's Outreach Coordinator, aided the installation.  Water from the creek itself helped set the sign footings.

Before and After: The Cheshire Farm Trail 

Georgia Department of Transportation employee points to the site of the future bridge.

The completed bridge across the North Fork of Peachtree Creek

The Cheshire Farm Trail: Where, How, $, and What

Where is the trail?

The Cheshire Farm Trail spans the creek as it flows along the edge of I-85 between Cheshire Bridge Road and Lindbergh Drive. Find it off Cheshire Bridge Road where the road goes under I-85 and becomes Lenox Road.

How the Cheshire Farm Trail Came to Be

When the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) decided to build the new flyover ramps for GA 400, some neighbors weren't pleased. The Lindbergh LaVista Corridor Coalition (LLCC) and the South Fork Conservancy encouraged  community meetings where neighbors discussed how GDOT could make it up to them. After plenty of discussion, two popular mitigation ideas were offered to GDOT: National Register of Historic Places  designation for the Lindridge Martin Manor neighborhood  and the creekside trail. GDOT agreed to both.  
Heather Alhadeff, a traffic consultant then working for Perkins+Will, helped steer the trail to completion. The cost neared a million dollars for the half-mile trail, including one major and three minor bridges.

What's in the Name?

During the construction phase, we called it the Creekside Trail. But, all our trails are along the creek. So, Sally Sears and Celia Lismore from the SFC went to the LLCC board meeting and asked for ideas.  
"Exactly where is the trail?" Someone asked. We told her... Continue this article on our webpage 

Before and After: Zonolite Park 
 

The EPA removes asbestos waste from the Meadow in 2011

Three years later- a toxic site transformed into a rain garden.

Joy Delivers Sweet Treats For South Fork

South Fork Fans take joy in a lot of the creek trail work, especially when Joy herself arrives in person. 
She strides down the trail, smiling with a box of brownies, berries or best of all, cake in hand, thanking volunteers for their hard work making the neighborhood better.
Joy Austin Beber lives in Cedar Chase and watched the early trail begin there with her husband John, in 2010.  She's a great cook, and offered her first treats to a group of church kids whacking kudzu in the hot summer sun.
Now, the trail is in better shape and  Joy's career is taking off. Lauded by Creative Loafing and other publications, Joy's catering and restaurant service is the toast of Buckhead. 
She has a full crowd at Joy Cafe on Pharr Road every day.
But despite the demands, when South Fork Conservancy asked her for a plate of special treats for our Creek Rising party in April, Joy Delivered! 
Her motto is  Made with Love, Served with Joy. We know the South Fork has a lot of special neighbors who support our work. But these neighbors, Joy and John Austin Beber, are very special. 
 

Safety? Check!

A couple of weeks ago, interested Atlanta Police Officers inspected three trails near the confluence to include them in maps and policing. They want to expand awareness and make sure the trails stay safe! 

Atlanta Police Deputy Chief Joe Spillane, head of field operations, brought Zone 2 Major Van Hobbs, left, Lt. RD Woody, head of detectives for Zone 2, right, and BeltLine patrol sergeant Will Schapker, center, with SFC's  Sally Sears

Photographer Bill Head took pictures of the trail construction (and a friendly box turtle-right?) as the police checked things out. City and area police leadership want to streamline trail signs and information and coordinate any incident reports. 

To view the rest of Bill's pictures, follow this link to our Facebook Page.