Cornelia takes steps to proceed with new walking trail

CORNELIA - The City of Cornelia soon will begin work on a new creekside walking trail and picnic area to enhance the downtown area.

Tuesday night, the city commission approved taking steps that will allow the project to proceed.

"They approved an easement which allows them to obtain what is called a conservation easement from several property owners along this area, along the sides of the stream," said City Manager Donald Anderson.

The work is along the beginning of Little Mud Creek, and will involve both clean-up and enhancement activities.

"We're going to start at Irvin Street Park, and it'll run beside the car wash, up Level Grove Road to Hoyt Street," Anderson said. "It's a $166,000 grant that we got from the Mud Creek Watershed Association, and what it's going to allow us to do is go in there and rebuild the streambank in a terraced type thing for flood control."

A walking path will be constructed along the terrace, with a picnic area at the end of Hodges Street at Level Grove Road on the former Hobson property, Anderson said.

"It's really going to beautify that whole area," Anderson said.