In a recent article in the AJC, Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park is brought into the spotlight. Here are some exerpts from the article:
For years, cross country teams across metro Atlanta have had free run of the popular trails at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. There, runners could get in their miles in sylvan surroundings.
But the days of unrestricted access for high school and college athletes may be coming to an end. Too many running teams, and the vehicles that bring them to Kennesaw, have strained the capacity of trails and parking lots, a top official said. The crush is particularly bad after work on weekdays and on weekends.
“We are simply at a point where the volume of usage at the park with organized athletic groups is in conflict with other park users,” said park superintendent Dan Brown. “I have gotten complaints from park visitors.”
They have complained, he said, that the teams essentially use what is a memorial site as a staging area to take off sweats, warm up and discard water bottles.
Large running squads can cause some individual visitors to “feel forced off the trail,” he said, as they sweep by in fast-moving packs.
Park officials plan to meet with area coaches today in an effort to find a solution. One prospect, Brown said, is to schedule days and times when each team is permitted to run. Some time blocks would be prohibited.
“We’re certainly going to ask for their input,” Brown said, “but there are some things we’ll definitely have to take a position on.”
What is your opinion about the situation? Have you found the athletic teams to be a problem or do you think they have every right to continue using the area for practices? SHARE YOUR OPINION!
3 Comments
Man that is nuts. If more americans would actually exercise, they wouldn’t feel intimidated. You have got to be kidding me – the runners have just as much as a right to use the park as anyone else. What’s next? Charging to use the park? Oi vey.
Come on, there are TONS of other places for athletic people to go to. THIS is ATLANTA! It’s big. Many other places to go to! Kennesaw Mountain is supposed to be a NATURE trail. NOT A SPORTS FACILITY! P.S. “Oi vey” doesn’t sound too American to me. (previous poster comment)
Why not charge? It’s a basic element of economy and society. If more people want to use a resource than the resource can “sustain” – then, the resource should charge to “upgrade” itself.
Runners should be allowed to use the trail every bit as much as weekend-warrior hikers.
Tlhis is stupid. …and typical of rural Georgia nonsense.