Ann Honious Joins Park Team as Acting Superintendent |
|
|
We
are pleased to announce that Ann Honious recently joined the team at
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (CRNRA) as the park’s acting
superintendent, assuming park management responsibilities following the
retirement of Bill Cox in January. A 28-year veteran with the National Park
Service, she will serve in this acting position until late summer, when the job
opening for the permanent superintendent position is expected to be announced. Ann
is on the 120-day detail from her current job as deputy superintendent for
National Capital Parks-East: multiple park sites, parkways and statuary
covering more than 8,000 acres of parklands in the Washington, D.C. area.
A westerner by
birth (Oregon) and education (Colorado), Ann says that she is already enjoying
her assignment to the Deep South. With her extensive experience in park
planning and design, cultural and historic resource preservation, and
partnership programs, the CRNRA is very fortunate to have Ann’s leadership, especially
as the park begins its phased reopening in the coming months. We look forward
to working with her to get our park back in business and embark on new projects! |
|
|
Fixing the Park! Jones Bridge Deck to be Replaced |
|
|
Last year, Chattahoochee Parks Conservancy (CPC)
secured a $50,000 grant
through the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta for a priority park project:
to replace a deteriorating river observation deck at the Jones Bridge Unit, which
is increasingly unsafe for park visitors. The existing deck, which offers
spectacular views of the Chattahoochee and Jones Bridge Shoals, is at least
four decades old. While the coronavirus pandemic has slowed our implementation
of this project, we expect to complete the environmental compliance and secure
necessary permits for construction after the park reopens; our goal is to finish
the project this fall.
As the only nonprofit, philanthropic organization
focused exclusively on helping the CRNRA be the best national park it can be,
CPC needs your support. Working with National Park Service staff, we have
developed a priority list of projects that will make your visit to the CRNRA a
safer and more enjoyable experience – from improved trails to facility
upgrades. Without financial help from everyone who loves and uses our park, it
will be difficult for us to realize our goals. During this pandemic, we’ve
learned how valuable – really essential – it is to be able to walk, run, bike,
paddle and simply connect with nature in the CRNRA. It’s easy to give back, especially
when more than 90% of every dollar you give goes directly to support the park. Support
our park here. Thank you!
|
|
|
WildBoyz Photography Features the Park |
|
|
During the month of May, CPC will be featured
on the website of WildBoyz Photography, a nonprofit dedicated to sharing
nature with others and promoting education of nature through photography. Ben
and Matt, the WildBoyz, say that they selected our organization because of our
affiliation with CRNRA, a park they know well and love. The WildBoyz website
will include a description of CPC, along with photographs of our activities.
Starting May 15, their gallery will feature photographs of the national park.
Seventy-five percent of all donations made to WildBoyz Photography this month
will go to CPC to support CRNRA projects and programs. At this link, you can read
about CPC and enjoy the photography galleries. If these images inspire you, as we think they will, please consider
donating in support of CPC and WildBoyz Photography. Thank you!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nantahala
Outdoor Center (NOC), the nation’s largest outdoor recreation
company, has been awarded a contract by the city of Roswell to bring its
community-based outdoor activities, rentals and education programs to a section
of the Chattahoochee River located upstream from the company’s current base of
operations at Powers Island and Johnson Ferry. Operating out of Roswell’s
Azalea Park and Don White Memorial Park, NOC will offer paddle boats and boards
and provide shuttles – once the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area
reopens its land units and the river. George Virgo, NOC’s general manager
for Chattahoochee operations, says that he is “super excited to be expanding
the company’s footprint in Atlanta, which offers a huge market for outdoor
recreation.”
Recognized
by National Geographic Adventure as “one of the best outfitters on Earth,” NOC
was awarded a ten-year concessionaire contract by the National Park Service in
2015 to provide services within the national recreation area. Per the
agreement, ten percent of NOC’s annual gross revenue must be passed on to the
CRNRA to support park projects and operations; last year, a banner season for
on-the-water recreation, yielded $26,000 for the park. A great partner to CPC
as well, NOC gives discounts on boat rentals during the week to our members!
Details provided when you join and/or renew. It’s easy to join here.
|
|
|
Chattahoochee RiverLands Completes Study
|
|
|
For the past eighteen months, CPC has helped develop the vision for Chattahoochee RiverLands, a 125-mile uninterrupted multimodal trail running from Buford Dam to Chattahoochee Bend State Park proposed by Trust for Public Land, Atlanta Regional Commission and other project management partners. The CRNRA makes up nearly half of the river corridor evaluated and offers a major destination for trail users with its 80-plus miles of footpaths and scenic beauty.
The RiverLands vision is a linear network of greenways, parks, a blueway and destinations that will bring people to the Chattahoochee and promote stewardship and conservation. Project partners describe the multimodal trail as a greenway that will follow the river, connecting 19 cities across seven counties and providing accessibility to more than one million metro Atlanta residents. The 104-mile blueway is envisioned to ultimately have more than 40 water access points. Tributary trails will connect neighborhoods and cities to the river. Kudos to CPC board member Cathy Barnard for representing us during this planning process. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
A year ago, CPC’s immediate past board president, Sally Bethea, began to regularly walk the Cabin Creek trail in East Palisades through the woods to the Chattahoochee River: an experience that she writes has never failed to provide her with peace, inspiration and new discoveries through the seasons. In her “Above the Waterline” column for Intown Atlanta, Sally offers several passages from her journal, her thoughts about the role of nature during this period of sheltering and waiting, and a favorite poem by Mary Oliver. While she missed seeing spring emerge on the trail, due to the closing of the CRNRA in March, Sally says that she is comforted by the certainty that spring will come again to Cabin Creek and that she’ll be able to return to the ravine of the talking creek and the constantly flowing river. We think you’ll enjoy her column and hope it inspires you to start your own journal! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Volunteer in the Park! Help the CRNRA by donating your time to maintain trails and assist with events, youth programs and administrative tasks. Visit www.crnra.vip to get involved. Give forty hours and get a free annual parking pass. Sign up now and get ready to help us reopen the park in the coming months. Your Shopping Can Help Our Park!
Are you ordering more online to stock up on stay-at-home supplies? Help CPC through Amazon Smile, by registering at this link; a percentage of your eligible purchases will be donated to our organization to help our national park. Amazon Smile offers the very same items as Amazon. Kroger Community Rewards also provides a percentage of your grocery purchase to a charity; it’s easy – sign up here. Thank you!
SWEEP THE HOOCH IS RESCHEDULED – Mark Your Calendars
10th Sweep the Hooch Cleanup – Saturday, August 29 (9am-Noon). Registration will open in June. We hope to see you at the CPC cleanup site at Whitewater, East Palisades Unit.
Walk & Talk Series: Founders Day in the Park, Sunday, Aug 23. Members Only. We will celebrate the 104th birthday of the NPS with a special outing led by Interpretive Ranger Sean Walsh-Haehle. Moderate 2.5-mile hike. Ages 10 and up. Registration for members opens mid-summer. Limit: 20. |
|
|
Become a CPC member or donate today!
YOU can help us achieve our vision of an inspired and thriving community of support for the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. |
|
|
CPC is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. We are proud to support our Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, a unit of the national park system by the National Park Service. |
|
|
|
|
National Park Service Website |
|
|
|
.jpeg)
