Plans for a new greenway park along Auburn's Saugahatchee Creek may soon come to realization after 16 years of work.
Auburn Parks and Recreation presented their proposal to the City Council Aug. 24 for the budget to complete a phase of the Saugahatchee Creek greenway and blue way project.
According to Parks and Recreation Director Becky Richardson, the Greenway plan has been in the works since early 2000 with the latest plan being updated in 2011. Work to obtain easements has been the priority for parks and recreation. Richardson provided a presentation to the city council to present the budget and to hopefully acquire funding.
Richardson works on a multi-departmental team including water resource management, planning and public works.
The project is multi-phased and is currently in its first phase. It will be a six to seven mile greenway, which is a long park, similar to a riverwalk but instead of a sidewalk it is only grass.
Survey and design will take a year to be completed in the city's 2017 fiscal year. Construction should begin late 2017 or early 2018.
There is one more small property easement parks and recreation is working to acquire.
“The facilities will work well for kayaking and a canoe drop," Richardson said. "There will be parking and eventually a restroom and picnic tables."
“As part of our parks and recreation master plan, we did a needs assessment survey. One of the top priorities was trails and green space, and so that is why we wanted to do a first phase of this. This project also included a blue way component that has tube canoe and kayak drops by Saugahatchee [Creek]."
Currently they are looking for a place to facilitate the drop off point. The project currently has one location they are considering.
“The Northside Water Pollution Control Facility is no longer active, and we maintain a permit, but the opportunity we see is to control that part to lend itself to being an ideal canoe takeout location if the plant will not be opened later," said Daniel Ballard, Watershed Division manager for Auburn Water Resource Management. "There will be a node also along the greenway, but we are looking over opportunities besides the plant.”
Water Resource Management officials said they understand that taking out a kayak next to a water treatment place may not set well with everyone.
Regardless, Ballard sees the location as a great educational tool for the public to learn about the importance of water resources and what water and waste management do to maintain good water quality.
The sewer easement is what the park will be using, not to be confused with the sewer lines underground. Having the new greenway will also improve access to the sewer lines, making it a win-win for both Parks and Recreation and for Water Resource Management.
“A portion of this line parallels with one of the main sanitary sewer interception lines," Ballard said. "Any improvement along the greenway will allow better access to lines. We will have construction on the greenway to provide better access and recreational use."
The current concept contains a paved surface for hiking, biking and rollerblading for the greenway along with a “pocket park” for the community. Water and resource anticipates having a facility for the public to learn how water is treated.
Ballard said he is looking forward to the future park.
“I am thrilled," Ballard said. "This project has been a joy to work alongside parks and rec and public works. The interdepartmental collaboration has been wonderful as we work toward a common goal. [My family] loves the local water in Alabama. This is a great opportunity for the citizens to have here in town an opportunity to interact with a beautiful creek like Saugahatchee Creek. I believe it is going to be a wonderful amenity."
Richardson agreed.
“I think that the park will be a great asset, especially to north Auburn because that is an area that is underserved … it is another opportunity to expose the community to greenways to show what they offer in recreational activities," she said. "It will also encourage property holders to participate in future projects."
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