Chattahoochee River Rambles

For the Chattahoochee RiverLands Greenway Study—a vision plan for a 100-mile integrated greenway and trail network extending across the Metro Atlanta Region—the SCAPE-led team conducted an extensive public outreach process engaging nearly 290 community and stakeholder groups spanning seven counties over two years. As part of this, the team organized two River Rambles, outings to the Chattahoochee River with focus groups to facilitate experiential learning and gather theme-specific feedback on aspects of the planning process.

For the first River Ramble (in August 2019), was organized in conjunction with the Agape Youth and Family Center, a local after-school program, and the National Park Service. Students identified macroinvertebrates and native plant species, then went on a rafting trip from Island Ford to Roswell, GA.

The second River Ramble (in November 2019) focused on designing accessible trails and outdoor spaces for individuals with disabilities—namely, navigable surfaces from trailheads to key water access points; sensory engagement of Georgia’s rich riparian ecosystems (for instance, bird and plant identification by touch, smell, and sound); and wayfinding features and amenity spaces along the trail accessible for all ages and abilities.

This River Ramble was organized in collaboration with Nature For All, the Georgia Council of the Blind, Aimee Copeland Foundation, Atlanta Audubon Society, Shepherd Center for Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Rehabilitation, Center for the Visually Impaired, Friends of Disabled Adults and Children, National Park Service, and Chattahoochee Parks Conservancy. The Accessibility River Ramble was covered in the Saporta Report by Walt Ray, Director of the Chattahoochee RiverLands program at the Trust for Public Land.