Forsyth County Closes Big Creek Greenway Phase 4 Starting Feb. 25

Forsyth County closed Phase 4 of the Big Creek Greenway to allow crews to rebuild a roughly 2-mile boardwalk after inspections discovered moisture and extensive rot beneath the boards. The closure began Feb. 25 and affects the stretch between the Bethelview Trailhead at mile marker 8.5 and Kelly Mill Road at mile marker 10.3, Parks & Recreation officials said.

Parks & Recreation Director Kirk Franz described the safety findings and the decision to close the segment in plain terms: “We had to close this section.” County postings and the Citizen Portal say the boardwalk wooden sections need replacement and that surface repairs were inadequate once crews inspected beneath the boards.

The county’s capital projects plan allocates around $17,000,000 toward the renovation covering Phase 4 and vulnerable sections of Phase 2 and Phase 3, and officials said they intend to use a design-build procurement. Citizen Portal reporting notes the design-build award is expected “by year’s end” and that work could continue through 2027, while the Parks & Recreation site states the project is anticipated to take two years to complete, weather dependent, with varying sections closing and re-opening as repairs are completed.

Planned work includes full rebuilding of failing boardwalk materials where necessary and retaining wood bridges that remain in good condition, Parks & Recreation said. ForsythCountyGA News noted crews will mill old pavement and lay a more durable surface for runners and cyclists, and the project will evaluate and upgrade drainage systems to prevent erosion and future flood damage. Parks staff are also evaluating alternate materials to increase installation efficiency and reduce long-term maintenance.

The closure affects public access and routing. Citizen Portal reports that with two sections closed, the county estimates about 14 miles of the greenway remain open to the public out of the roughly 17-mile total from Union Hill to the Shawnee Mountain Preserve, with about a 1-mile gap tied to a future Highway 20 widening. Parks & Recreation added that a portion of the Fowler Park Trailhead boardwalk is currently disconnected but users can still access the Fowler Park trail.

Franz framed the temporary, comprehensive shutdown as a fiscally prudent choice rather than a series of short repairs, saying, “The alternative to a comprehensive, temporary closure is piecemeal repair work that drags on, offers inconsistent quality, and ultimately costs the taxpayer more over the long run.” County officials said the goal is to complete and re-open the Fowler Park connection and Phase 4 before beginning work on Phase 3 between Fowler Park and Bethelview Trailhead.

Forsyth County will post updates, interactive maps, and an estimated timeline on the Parks web page once materials and design are finalized and demolition begins. Parks staff emphasized that “The section is closed because the boardwalk (wooden sections) need to be replaced and it is not safe for use,” and that phased re-openings will follow as rebuilt segments are returned to service.