Sweetwater Creek State Park
Trail improvements
Lithia Springs, Georgia

Stability engineered three overlook structures along the red trail at Sweetwater Creek State Park. The first you’ll encounter is traditional wood-framed boardwalk construction supported by cast in place concrete piers, with stairs and a bumpout over the creek. It features a timber trellis and integrated swing, which provides a lovely place to rest while listening to nature and the water flowing in the creek below. The radiused event deck overlooking the old textile mill is supported by a combination of steel-braced and timber joist framing, as well as concrete piers. This deck features decorative safety railing and provides a grand viewing area of the historic mill ruins.  The radiused deck framing creates sectors and a unique aesthetic for the finished decking. The sub structure includes steel braced and timber joist framing, and the concrete foundation piers were specifically spaced to avoid two mature oak trees which are incorporated into the backdrop of the new deck. The cantilevered overlook is about ½ mile further down the red trail and sits atop a large, exposed rock bluff 40 feet above the water level. For this deck we provided a custom design for the tower’s steel frame and steel suspension cables which are anchored into the natural rock hillside.