DeKalb County Regional Trails Network by Anne Welch

CONNECTING COMMUNITIES

A DEKALB COUNTY REGIONAL TRAILS NETWORK INTERESTED BUT CONCERNED BICYCLISTS...

VISION

Create a safe and Attract new businesses connected regional and promote bicycling and walking local economic network. development.

The ultimate vision for this proposed trail network is to provide a safe, connected network of on- and off- road bicycle and pedestrian trails (along with its associated infrastructure) for the Lookout Mountain Area of DeKalb County, Alabama.

Increase quality of Provide more life for community opportunities for members of the outdoor recreation region. and the enjoyment of natural resources.

Increase tourism to the Lookout Mountain Region.

A BOON TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY Tourism is the largest non-agricultural business in DeKalb Co., creating an economic impact of $14,253,696 (20102014) and directly or indirectly supporting approximately 1,073 jobs in the area. The AL Tourism Department’s 2017 Annual Report showed that tourist expenditures in the past 10 years have more than doubled for DeKalb Co. despite most of this time period falling in the recession era.

Represent the majority of potential trail network users. These are people who are curious about bicycling, but are nervous to ride in roadways with traffic. They don’t regularly ride, but might have fond memories of riding bikes as a child. However, given a safe, comfortable and connected set of bicycle and greenway networks, they would be willing to make more trips by bicycle.

NORTH

GOALS

A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR AN INTERCONNECTED TRAIL NETWORK IN THE SAND MOUNTAIN AND LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN REGION

E LIN T A T S ORGIA

A/ G M A B LA

5E 1

DESOTO LAKE

DeSoto Falls

DeSoto State Park Info Center & Lodge 11

! !

Little River Falls

Little River Canyon Center

WEISS LAKE 9

CITY LAKE

Canyon Mouth Picnic Area

LEGEND EXISTING

14N

PROPOSED

FUNDED

SCENIC BYWAYS & PARKWAYS HIKING TRAIL

14S

LOCAL CORRIDOR

MOUNTAIN BIKING TRAIL BACKCOUNTRY GRAVEL ROAD

STATE PARK

NATIONAL PARK / PRESERVE

MUNICIPAL PARK

DeKalb Tourism Center

CONSERVATION LANDS

PROPOSED TRAILS AND CONNECTIONS SEGMENT DESCRIPTIONS AND RECOMMENDED INFRASTRUCTURE SEGMENT 1 - NORTH MENTONE LOOP This loop, beginning and ending at Edward Mason Park / Mentone Town Hall, provides a walking and bicycling connection to Brow Park (and the future Caperton Trail) and connects tourists staying in the many rental cabins in this area with downtown. This trail is called for in Mentone’s Comprehensive Plan.

SEGMENT 7 - FORT PAYNE TO DESOTO STATE PARK, NORTHERN ROUTE This segment utilizes Co. Rd 604 to connect AL Hwy 11 in Fort Payne to the DeSoto State Park. Although this roadway is narrow, the traffic volume is low enough to allow it to function as an excellent connection for bicyclists headed up the mountain. Climbing Lanes for bicyclists and runners are recommended infrastructure along the uphill lane of this road.

SEGMENT 2 - CAPERTON TRAIL This segment starts at Brow Park in Mentone, and follows a historic Civil War Era road, called the Caperton Trail, down the mountain to Valley Head. Renovation of this currently overgrown road bed into a trail would provide both tourist and locals great viewsheds of the valley as well as walking and bicycling connections between the downtowns of Mentone and Valley Head. The trail would also provide educational opportunities for trail users to learn about the surrounding area’s deep history.

SEGMENT 8 - FORT PAYNE TO DESOTO STATE PARK, ATHLETIC CENTER ROUTE This segment will connect the planned Fort Payne Sportsplex to the DeSoto State Park by utilizing city-owned property and private easements to complete this trail connection. The planned Athletic Center will contain both ball fields as well as RV pads, and the trails will provide safe off-road connections for bicyclists and pedestrians.

SEGMENT 3 - DOWNTOWN MENTONE MULTI-USE PATH / SIDEWALK / SIDEPATH This section will be an ADA compliant multi-use path paralleling AL Hwy 117. Phase I of this project extends from Edward Mason Park to W River Road (phase 1 has been funded through an ALDOT Transportation Alternatives Program Grant); Phase II will extend to E River Road, and will utilize the Old Bridge to connect to Moon Lake School and Community Library. SEGMENT 4 - CONNECTION TO US BIKE ROUTE 21 AND OTHER GEORGIA TRAILS This section will connect the DeKalb County Regional Trail Network to the US National Bike Route System as well as to the Georgia Bike Route Network. Closing this gap would encourage bicycle tourism from Georgia and Tennessee. This section is approximately 5 miles from the endpoint of Segment 3, Phase II to the AL / GA state line, which is another 6 miles to the Chattahoochee Trace. SEGMENT 5 - MENTONE TO DESOTO STATE PARK This section of the network will connect downtown Mentone to the DeSoto State Park and its network of hiking, bicycling, and equestrian trails. This route provides two options for connections, both of which are called for in Mentone’s Comprehensive Plan. The Eastern Route (5E) utilizes Co. Road 115 - a longer but less trafficked route with wider right-of-way. The Western Route (5W) follows East River Road, a shaded route along a narrower but also low traffic road. There is potential to connect the 5W to DeSoto Falls and Route 6; however this will require easements from local land owners. SEGMENT 6 - DESOTO STATE PARK TO DESOTO FALLS This section of network provides connections between DeSoto State Park and DeSoto Falls. Although at present, no easements that would allow a connection to 5W are currently in place, we recommend that this is further explored - as the section of roadway between downtown Mentone and DeSoto Falls along the DeSoto Parkway is too narrow to provide sufficient right-of-way for a separated bicycle or pedestrian facility that would be needed due to the higher traffic volume along that section of road which make a shared roadway facility unappealing to bicyclists and pedestrians.

SEGMENT 9 - COUNTY ROAD 116 This segment of network parallels the DeSoto Parkway providing an alternative to the DeSoto Parkway route which provides users with scenic views from the brow of the mountain. This section of roadway has lower traffic volumes than its northern sections - mostly due to the lower density of housing in this area. SEGMENT 10 - DESOTO PARKWAY The DeSoto Parkway is part of the larger Lookout Mountain Scenic Parkway. This route serves as a major spine of the Regional Trail Network, providing connections between DeSoto State Park and the LRCNP and has ample right-of-way for the construction of a sidepath. This DeSoto Parkway segment would provide a much needed connection between the two parks, via NPS Backcountry Roads 05, 09, and 08, as current connecting trails (Scout Trail) are prohibit bicyclists and are often closed to pedestrians and equestrians during ecologically sensitive seasons. SEGMENT 11 - DESOTO PKWY TO LITTLE RIVER CANYON NATIONAL PRESERVE This route utilizes Howell Road, Dunn Road, and Co. Rd 476 to connect the DeSoto Parkway with the LRCNP. These roads are all currently low traffic, low speed, residential roadways. SEGMENT 12 - DESOTO PKWY TO LITTLE RIVER CANYON NATIONAL PRESERVE This route follows the length of Co. Rd 153 and connects the DeSoto Parkway with the LRCNP Backcountry Trail Network and the Little River Canyon Center and Falls via NPS 05. This route would also connect many rural residents with a local corner store and the Fisher School. SEGMENT 13 - LITTLE RIVER CANYON PARKWAY The Little River Canyon Parkway is a narrow winding road, classified as a Scenic Parkway, which connects the many overlooks, hiking trails, and picnic areas along its length. There is little right-ofway to support separated bicycle infrastructure; however current speed limits are 35mph, making this a low speed road that can be safely shared. This route is regularly utilized by recreational cyclists. The southernmost end of the Parkway connects to the Appalachian Highlands Scenic Byway; however future bike infrastructure could connect this route to the Cherokee Rock Village in Leesburg (referenced in the AL Statewide Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, 2018) and on to the Chief Ladiga / Silver Comet Trail - ultimately connecting the DeSoto State Park/LRCNP with the Talladega National Forest.

SEGMENT 14 - LITTLE RIVER CANYON CENTER TO DOWNTOWN FORT PAYNE This route follows the length of Co. Rd 78, and provides a low-traffic connection between the Little River Canyon Center and Downtown Fort Payne. Although State Route 35 is classified as a Scenic Byway, the current volume of freight traffic on this road makes this a less than ideal route for bicycle and pedestrian traffic. Segment 14 provides two alternatives, 14N and 14S for connecting down the mountain. 14N utilizes existing utility easements, while 14S would utilize the ample right-of-way along Co.Rd 78 where a side path or paved shoulder would be possible. SEGMENT 15 - GODFREY AVE / WILLIAMS AVE LOCAL CORRIDOR The Godfrey Avenue / Williams Avenue Corridor has been added to this network as a suggested complete streets corridor for the Fort Payne Bicycle and Pedestrian Network. Bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure improvements along these sections of roadway would provide a safer parallel route to AL Hwy 11, and would serve to connect residential areas, schools, community centers, and parks with the downtown business district and local municipal services. There is existing sidewalk along most of this route that could be widened to provide a multi-use sidepath for both bicyclists and pedestrians. The City should explore routes and connections along this corridor as they develop a Local Bicycle and Pedestrian Network. SEGMENT 16 - GRAND AVENUE LOCAL CORRIDOR Bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure improvements along the Godfrey Avenue / Williams Avenue Corridor would provide a safe parallel route to AL Hwy 11, and would serve to connect residential neighborhoods, schools, community centers, and parks with the downtown business district and municipal services. There is existing sidewalk along most of this route that could be widened to provide a multi-use sidepath for both bicyclists and pedestrians. The City should explore routes and connections along this corridor as they work to develop a Local Bicycle and Pedestrian Network. SEGMENT 17 - BIG WILLS CREEK GREENWAY The Big Wills Greenway would follow the Big Wills Creek right-of-way; and is planned (along with a parallel blueway) to provide a separated multi-use trail that will connect the Fort Payne Sports Plex and Northern Fort Payne with the commercial district (Walmart Shopping Center) located at US 59 and Co. Rd 35. A northern spur of the greenway will provide connections to Fort Payne City Lake and Park - with a potential eventual extension of this trail to the downtowns of Hammondville and Valley Head.

The full version of the Connecting Communities: A DeKalb County Regional Trails Network Plan includes municipal and park focused recommendations, detailed proposed network maps, design guides, state and local frameworks, and potential funding sources.

PREPARED BY THE TOP OF ALABAMA REGIONAL COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS AS A PROJECT OF THE RURAL PLANNING ORGANIZATION