10/04/2026
The Sandy Springs Conservancy supports a YES VOTE BY CITY COUNCIL THIS TUESDAY OCT 6th on submitting the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program grant application for Springway Phase 2C.
Phase 2C is part of Sandy Springs’ 31-mile Springway Trail network, a plan adopted with extensive citizen input. It also advances three of the four priorities emerging from the City’s current comprehensive planning process: walkability, access to the river and tree canopy.
It is also an investment in the North End area and in a trail system intended to serve residents throughout Sandy Springs, regardless of district. A completed loop would offer still more reason to come. However, it is important to point out that there are currently over 13,000 people residing in the adjacent census tracts, arguably within walking distance. That is significant impact for this investment.
The broader evidence is reassuring. Research generally finds that trails have a positive effect on nearby property values and do not increase crime. In fact, homeowners living near trails frequently report positive experiences and improvements in quality of life.
We have local evidence, too. The neighborhoods near the Orkin Lake loop report strong satisfaction with the trail. In a survey of the nearby Princeton Falls neighborhood, 77% had used the new trail, 83% reported a “Very Positive” experience, and 78% strongly supported extending the Morgan Falls trail system.
Phase 2C is not a stand-alone project. It is an important link in a larger network—one that will provide non-vehicular connections across Sandy Springs, greater access to the river, more opportunities for exercise and outdoor recreation, and improved access for people with disabilities.
Finally, the City has an opportunity to leverage state grant funding for a capital project residents have already asked for. That is a smart use of public resources.
Let City Council know that you support a YES vote to keep the Springway network moving forward.
