New Trail at Watts Mill opens, other improvements still underway

PHOTO CAPTION: The Indian Creek trail temporarily closed Sept 23 due to construction on the east side of the Watts Mill Shopping Center.

Indian Creek Trail at Watts Mill closes for improvements

By John Sharp

Construction of major improvements to Indian Creek Trail and adjacent areas on the south side of 103^rd St. just east of Watts Mill Shopping Center began Monday, September 23, and opened early October.

A portion of the current 8 foot wide asphalt trail was replaced with a 10 foot wide concrete trail that has less than a 5 percent slope to be ADA accessible, according to Chad Hollingsworth, the project manager for the City Parks and Recreation Department.

Improvements to the area around the site of the former Watts Mill gristmill will include a terraced rain garden with a limestone block wall, three 6 foot limestone blocks by the creek’s edge for seating, two 5 foot in diameter concrete picnic tables with concrete seats with limestone veneer on the sides of the seats and the table pedestals and a fence with limestone fence posts and four wire cable rails. 

Three 14 foot tall pedestrian light poles with LED lighting will be installed for safety, and interpretive signage regarding the history of Watts Mill which was built in the 1830s and designated a historic site in 1974 also will be added.

Hollingsworth said improvements also will include a general cleanup of the area.  He explained the entire project is scheduled to be completed by December 1.