Nature just got a lot more interesting, especially for anyone interested in spending a leisurely amount of time along the banks of the Chattahoochee River. The approval and bond sale of the 3,000-acre Chattahoochee Bend State Park in western Coweta County on property bordering Carroll and Heard counties was announced July 28 at the Coweta County Commission chambers at a meeting of Chattahoochee-Flint Regional Development Center.

The Coweta County Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) Chairman Dean Jackson gave an overview of the initiative that began only four years ago by county staff and elected officials, CVB, Coweta legislators and the Georgia Dept. of Natural Resources (DNR) staff. The initiative led to the approval and bond sale for the state’s newest park. In terms of approval for such projects, a mere four-year time frame from proposal to approval is virtually unheard of, Jackson said.

The park will feature 11.3 miles of equestrian trails, 5.9 miles of mountain bike trails, 22.8 miles of hiking trails and a two-mile hard surface multi-use trail. For what is described as a passive park, Chattahoochee Bend will not be short on amenities. Tentatively set for phase 1 and expected to be completed by summer 2010 are road construction, infrastructure, the park office and staff residence, canoe/kayak/boat launches and fishing piers near the north and south river-front stretches of the park and a day-use activities area that will feature a playground, seven picnic shelters with adjacent parking, a rest station and a gathering area outfitted with an interpretative kiosk. Other amenities, perhaps in phase 1 or at a later date, will include tent and pioneer camping.

Phase 2 amenities will be established some time in the future. That time frame is not set and will depend on state funding and, more importantly, the efforts of the upcoming Friends of Chattahoochee Bend State Park non-profit group. As funding permits, phase 2 amenities will include more than a dozen cottages in various locations throughout the park, a river lodge, an equestrian center and more activities and comfort stations.

Jackson was one of several at the meeting to thank Rep. Lynn Smith and many others whose persistence resulted in the creation of Georgia’s newest state park.

“Our work has just begun,” Smith told those in attendance. “We need an outpouring of support from the community.”

Smith, Jackson and nearly all the speakers Monday echoed that sentiment. The support they all referenced will need to come in the form of fundraising efforts by Friends of Chattahoochee Bend State Park.

Chattahoochee Bend is one of Georgia’s 65 state parks situated on more than 80,000 acres. In terms of sheer size, Chattahoochee Bend ranks as the fourth largest in the park system, behind Roosevelt in Warm Springs, Smithgall Woods Conservation Area in Helen and Hard Labor Creek near Madison. It will also be the closest state park to many southwest metro Atlanta residents. Other state parks in the vicinity include Panola Mountain near Stockbridge and Sweetwater Creek near Lithia Springs.

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