DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody has an ambitious plan for a network of walking and biking trails that would stretch 69 miles, but some in the community have called for the city to take a step back.
That’s prompted the Dunwoody City Council to delay voting on the plan at least until May 22.
Some homeowners have raised objections about trails coming too close to their homes, citing security and privacy concerns.
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David Andersen, who lives in the Brooke Farm community, said a trail spur proposed for his subdivision could lead to problems.
“And that concern stems from security, that Brooke Farm has one entrance in and one entrance out,” Andersen told Channel 2′s Bryan Mims.
He’s worried that trail users would filter through the neighborhood, with its swimming pool and tennis court.
“We worry as well for liability reasons that non-residents would attempt to use those facilities and might get hurt,” Andersen said.
After hearing complaints from residents of the Brooke Farm subdivision, city council has recommended the removal of that trail spur and delayed voting on the plan.
The city plans to build 69 miles of trails that would connect neighborhoods, nine parks, 11 schools, seven shopping centers and two MARTA stations.
“I think it’ll get people out of their cars,” said Richard McLeod, Dunwoody’s Community Development Director. “They can interact with others, exercise with each other.”
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The trail plan, which incorporates existing trails such as those at Brook Run Park, would be done in three phases and take more than 10 years to complete.
Trails would also connect to those in neighboring cities. “We’re just like the hole in the middle. It just seems to make sense for us,” McLeod said.
On a cool, sunny day, walkers and runners kept the trails hot at Brook Run Park on Tuesday.
Lisa Friedman, walking her grandson in a stroller, welcomes miles of more trails in Dunwoody.
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“My husband and I would walk our grandchildren every day on them,” she said.
If there were more trails in the community, she would be more motivated to walk and “lead a healthier life.”
Officials have said when the trail system is completed, more than 70 percent of Dunwoody residents would be within a 10-minute walk of a trail connection.
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