Boardwalk Improvements Underway at Blue Heron!

If you’ve walked the trails at Blue Heron recently, you’ve probably noticed that some of our boardwalks have seen better days. We know! Several sections have deteriorated significantly, and we’ve been working closely with the City of Atlanta since December 2025 to get much-needed repairs and replacements underway.

While navigating the City’s procurement and approval processes has taken much longer than we had hoped, we’re pleased to report that improvements are finally happening! Some of the most seriously damaged boards were recently replaced, and a much larger restoration project is about to begin.

The City has contracted with Tailored Trails, the company responsible for much of Blue Heron’s existing trail system, to complete the work. Crews are scheduled to begin cleaning boardwalks in the Emma Lane and Land O’ Lakes areas this week, with more extensive repairs and replacements to follow as materials arrive.

The project includes replacing several deteriorated boardwalk sections with more durable manufactured decking, rebuilding a raised boardwalk section in a flood-prone area where the former Boy Scout bridge was removed, and cleaning, sealing, and making minor repairs to other structures to extend their useful lives. Two permanent access points to Nancy Creek will also be created to allow visitors to enjoy the creek safely while protecting its banks from erosion.

These improvements are being funded through the $1 million in Moving Atlanta Forward bond funding allocated to Blue Heron Nature Preserve. We’re grateful to the City of Atlanta voters who made this investment possible and to our City partners for helping move these improvements forward.

We appreciate your patience as we’ve worked to address these conditions. Keeping Blue Heron’s trails safe, accessible, and welcoming is a priority, and we’re excited that visitors will soon begin seeing substantial improvements throughout the Preserve!