Paces Mill/Palisades Rehabilitation

Protecting the Paces Mill/Palisades for generations to come

The Cumberland CID is home to more than 840 acres of the National Park Service’s Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (CRNRA). This greenspace – an area equivalent to New York’s Central Park – is a critical natural resource in this rapidly urbanizing area.

The Paces Mill/Palisades Unit is the southernmost Unit of the CRNRA, which is located at the Cumberland CID’s southern boundary and gateway. The Cumberland CID and the CRNRA are partnering together to rehabilitate and protect the Paces Mill/Palisades Unit.

The CRNRA's most popular park Unit

Built in the 1978, the park unit is a popular destination for people participating in recreational boating, fishing, picnicking, jogging, biking and walking activities. The Paces Mill/Palisades Unit hosts over 270,000 visitors a year connecting to 38 miles of multi-use trails and serving as the Bob Callan Trailhead.

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Benefits of the Rehabilitation

In 2017, the NPS and the Cumberland CID entered into a formal public-private partnership with the goal of rehabilitating Paces Mill/Palisades Unit, protecting the resource and enhancing the visitor experience.

Benefits of the estimated $11.8 million makeover of the Unit include:

A more national park-like visitor experience that realigns the entrance road and repositions the central open meadow and the main parking area.
Additional river access points with new river-viewing platforms and a wide set of river steps.
An enhanced and expanded picnic area.
Upgrades to the existing trail system to minimize conflicts with vehicular traffic inside the park.
A series of bioswales to filter stormwater runoff before it enters the river.

Below are renderings of the rehabilitation.

Visitor Information Center

A new visitor information center is a part of the rehabilitation that will feature restrooms and changing rooms.

River Access

Additional river access points with new river-viewing platforms and a wide set of river steps.

Upgraded Trails

Upgrades to the existing trail system to minimize conflicts with vehicular traffic inside the park.

Improved Vehicular Circulation

Improved vehicular circulation at both boat ramps allowing cars and trucks with boat trailers to circulate more easily.

The picture above is an example of a wide set of river steps allowing more access.

Protecting the natural Resources for All

New river viewing platforms will be a major part of the project.

The project’s mission will help parkgoers connect with nature and the river similar to the example seen above.

Timeline

2017

Formal partnership was formed. Barge Design Solutions was selected to develop concept designs for the rehabilitation.

2018

Concept designs complete. Preliminary engineering begins.

2022

Estimated completion for preliminary engineering.

2024

Estimated construction begins (depended on funding).

2026

Estimated construction complete.

Project Factsheet

The Paces Mill/Palisades Unit project represents a collaborative effort of the National Park Service/CRNRA and the Cumberland CID. Both parties are excited about the Paces Mill/Palisades Park Unit Rehabilitation and confident it will provide an important natural resource to the community and an enhanced visitor experience for many years to come.