The Big Creek Greenway going south from Fowler had been closed for reconstruction since 2021
Ageing
The rebuilding of the Greenway became a necessity after the prior boardwalk fell victim to rot, damage from trees, and heavy usage. Previously, the boards had become coated in algae with the spaces between many of them clogged with debris, allowing puddling. Many were becoming soft and bouncy with others breaking under the weight of users or fallen branches.
In with the New
The new boardwalk is nearly identical to the recently completed section from Halcyon to Union Hill Road. The replacement also allowed them to use steel structures beneath the boardwalk itself, a needed update from the old wooden base. Additionally, they added more sections with high rails and the lower rails are now on the outside of the boardwalk, creating a wider area for walking.
Completion of the trail also includes the reopening of the Union Hill Road parking lot and restroom for park goers, which had been closed since work started on the Halcyon to Union Hill Road section in 2020. Work on that section was completed in February of 2022.
Missed Opportunity
While the renovation looks wonderful and offers a spectacular experience for users, there were some sections suffering the same fate as that which it replaced. Like the boardwalk before it, the planks are subject to flooding during heavy rains, often submerging them and depositing dirt and leaves on and in between the planks. This issue could've been drastically reduced by increasing the height just slightly. Other sections were not renovated at all. The small sections of concrete were left alone even though they often act as a secondary creek bed as they have sunken beneath the surrounding earth.
Regardless, trail goers can once again experience the serenity of the nature along The Big Creek Greenway. Check it out yourself:
Comments