The Coosa River Basin Initiative (CRBI) will lead an educational walk through the Burwell Creek wetlands in Rome April 2 at 6 p.m. The walk is free and open to the public.
The four acres of wetlands surrounding Burwell Creek as well as nearly 50 acres of adjacent floodplain located at the corner of Turner McCall Drive and Riverside Parkway has been slated for development as a regional shopping center.
"More than 1,000 people have signed a petition opposing this development proposal so this is an opportunity for those interested in the future of this property to take a closer look," said Joe Cook, Executive Director & Riverkeeper at CRBI. "It's a property with a unique history and it's teaming with life."
The hour-walk and talk will show participants extensive wildlife habitat, Burwell Creek and the remnants of a former city landfill located on a portion of the property. Participants will meet in the Burwell Creek parking area at Ridge Ferry Park beginning at 5:45 p.m. Interested parties should contact CRBI at 706-232-2724 for additional information.
The City of Rome had considered development of the property as a city park, using it to connect Ridge Ferry Park on the Oostanaula River with historic Jackson Hill. Those plans were dropped when local developers, Ledbetter Properties, proposed a regional retail center for the site. The Citi Center development has been in the works since 2005, but the economic recession has delayed the project.
On March 18, Ledbetter Properties' federal permits to begin the project expired. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is currently reviewing the original permit to determine if it is valid. That permit would allow the company to fill in the wetlands and relocate nearly a half-mile of Burwell Creek to make way for the shopping center.
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