Development for the Clarence E. Harris River Park began almost ten years ago—around 1998. One of the initiatives of the New Echota Rivers Alliance (NERA), the only non-profit 501(c)3 citizens’ organization in Gordon County dedicated to water quality, is the fruition of the Clarence E. Harris River Park. In addition to the what is known as the “Soccer Complex”, multi-purpose recreational building and pedestrian trail (which meanders from the depot to the soccer fields), the original plans called for a “river walk” that crossed the Oostanaula River, a concert-style amphitheatre, 200-space parking lot, playgrounds, ball fields, and additional nature trails.

What I am getting at has somewhat to do with terminology because the “River Park” and “Soccer Complex” is not the same thing. This is why I have to ask: have you seen the “official” entrance to the River Park?

The soccer complex, multi-purpose recreational building, and 1.5 mile walking trail were completed by 2002. According to newspaper articles, the “finishing touches” of the Clarence E. Harris River Park were made when the City of Calhoun steel-bridged a 65-foot crossing of an Oostanaula tributary within the 1.5 mile River Park pedestrian trail. Thus, the entrance to the “Soccer Complex” on Mauldin Road is not the “official” entrance to the Clarence E. Harris River Park.

The “official” entrance to which I refer is next the electrical sub-station on Mauldin Road (the entrance closest to the Armory). A drive through the gates of the entrance exhibits elegant masonry with a plaque of Clarence E. Harris on the right side, but a blank slate of plywood on the left. You may feel uncomfortable venturing to the riverbank because it feels like you are trespassing on a construction site, but it is your river park, so keep going.  As you pass the sub-station (on your right), the soccer fields are visible, but what is most intriguing is what you will see on the banks of the Oostanaula.

Here I must mention that I have paddled the entire length of the Oostanaula by canoe. For me, the rock-and-bluff formation adjacent to the “official” entrance to the Clarence E. Harris River Park is one of the most significant geographical features of the river—the other two being Ship Island in Plainville, and the Crow Valley Bluffs in Resaca. Unfortunately, jumble and litter that didn’t make it to the landfill blanket these unique natural features of the river. 

Like the debris, it seems like the bluff itself has been tossed off and forgotten. This sort of display has no business in the heart of a vibrant downtown.

Besides Floyd County, no other county in the state has three major rivers flowing to its city limits. While cities like Columbus have turned their rivers into centerpieces for downtown revitalization, Calhoun’s efforts have been slow in developing.

The Oostanaula River is not dysfunctional. Understandably, problems with the river in 80’s put up a levee between the citizens of Calhoun and the river. Although the health of the river is improved, its overall imaged continues to be poor.

NERA Board and Staff strongly believe the Oostanaula—in conjunction with the completion of the Clarence E. Harris Park—is the identifying landmark that lends an important aesthetic character to the city. Not only is this park an important link between town-owned lands and potential nature reserve areas, but a bondage point for pure river stewardship, heritage, and sustainable economic development. 

NERA will hold a cleanup of the Clarence E. Harris River Park on April 15, 2006 at 10am.  Contact Clayton Jones, NERA Executive Director and Riverkeeper, at (770) 548-0263 or claytonjones@coosa.org. For more information about the New Echota Rivers Alliance, visit www.newechotarivers.org.