'I'm completely excited for it, it's going to be a good trail,' Richardson said. The trail would run through much of Councilwoman Cheryl Richardson's Ward 1 - she said it would be a great addition to the area. Construction would take 8-12 months, so phase one wouldn't be completed until 2023, at the earliest. In the best-case scenario, with the state grant approved, Rice said construction could begin next summer at the earliest (the city will not know if the grant is approved until next spring). 'Depending upon how we cross I-75, whether that is a pedestrian bridge, or going across the current Delk Road crossing, however we work that out, that would drive that final cost tremendously,' Rice said.

Phase two could cost as much as $11-12 million, Rice said, mainly because it has to cross over I-75. If received, the city would use the grant to fund construction, but other costs such as right-of-way purchases would bring the phase one cost to $6-8 million, Rice estimates. Should the city not receive the grant, it will need to find other funding sources. The grant is 'highly competitive,' Rice said. Per Rice, the city is negotiating with property to purchase right of ways and get driveway easements to make phase one possible. The Bob Callan Trail brings further connectivity to other Cumberland-area trails and the Chattahoochee River recreational area. The trail would run down Franklin Gateway, across I-75 near Delk Road and end on Bentley Road. Phase two of the Rottenwood Creek Trail would link to Cobb County's planned Windy Hill - Terrell Mill Connector Trail, which would provide a link south to the existing Bob Callan Trail. we just have to get it off the ground and get some funding sources in here.' it's going to tie in two universities and some of our other residential areas back over to Franklin Gateway and tie in our sports complex over there also,' said Public Works Director Mark Rice. 'It's going to connect KSU and Life University. The trail would then continue south along Cobb Parkway before heading east, hugging the creek through residential areas to the Franklin Gateway Sports Complex. The approximately six-mile phase one of the Rottenwood Creek Trail would start at Alumni Drive near the Aviation Sports Complex and Kennesaw State's Marietta campus, following the creek southeast to Barclay Circle before crossing Cobb Parkway.

Rottenwood creek marietta ga