In late September, crews on ladders were bolting shade canopies over the two fenced yards at Morgan Falls Dog Park. The park sits along the Chattahoochee, beside the 1904 dam that still makes hydroelectric power. Rough Draft Atlanta photographed the crews at work on September 24 while the park was closed. Anyone who brought a dog here during a wet spell knows why the project started with a shovel. When the city surveyed the community in 2024, a lack of dry ground at this dog park was one of the most common complaints.
That problem now has a fix and a party. The City of Sandy Springs will cut the ribbon on the renovated park on Wednesday, October 14, at 2 p.m. The city says the work finished ahead of schedule. A dry park at 100 Morgan Falls Road also makes a good starting point for a longer walk. It has a parking lot the city opens to trail users, a connector trail that runs to Roswell Road, and a national park unit downriver that added about two miles of trail this summer. Each stop has its own rules, and they differ more than most people would guess.
What $1.04 Million Bought at the Overlook
The project budget is $1.04 million. According to the city's 2027 budget, as reported by Rough Draft Atlanta, about $560,000 had been spent, and the rest is expected to go out this fiscal year. The early work was earthwork. In fall 2024, crews channeled water away from the park, regraded the site and took out a few trees. Last October, the city updated its land lease with Georgia Power so its contractor could add shade structures, a wash station, dog agility equipment, better ground cover and drainage.
The city's announcement lists what is on the ground now:
- A graded drainage channel meant to keep the play areas dry
- Shade structures, benches and picnic tables
- Waste stations and wash stations
- Drinking fountains
- Boulders dogs can climb to look around
The layout is the same as before. The city lists the park at 3.421 acres, with one fenced area for small dogs and one for large dogs. Sandy Springs Police Department K-9 Yeager is on the guest list for the ribbon-cutting. In the city's words, he will "determine whether the park passes the sniff test."
The Parking Lot Is Also a Trailhead
The dog park is easy to treat as a destination, but the city treats it as a trailhead too. The Springway connector from Morgan Falls Overlook Park runs 1.88 miles to Roswell Road at Cimarron Parkway. In its trail guidance, the city says drivers who come to use the Springway may park at Morgan Falls Dog Park.
So one parking spot can cover a full morning. A dog can burn off energy in the fenced yard and then head out on a leashed walk along the connector. On the way back there is Morgan Falls Overlook Park, which has a two-thirds-mile wooded trail, a playground, a dock and restrooms. The city counts the dog park, the Springway trail and the fishing area by the dam as parts of that same recreation area.
The city lists Morgan Falls Overlook Park as open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. The Springway connector closes at dusk. Days keep getting shorter through October, so the trail portion of an after-work walk shrinks well before the overlook closes.
Where the Leash Rules Change
There are three kinds of public land within a short drive of each other here: a city park, a city trail and a national recreation area. Each one posts its own rules for dogs.
| Stop | Who manages it | Hours as posted | Leash rule as posted | Entrance pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morgan Falls Overlook Park | City of Sandy Springs | 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. | Citywide park rule: pets leashed, owners clean up | None listed |
| Springway, Overlook to Roswell Road | City of Sandy Springs | Dawn to dusk | Pets on a short leash | None listed |
| Island Ford, Chattahoochee River NRA | National Park Service | Dawn to dusk; visitor center 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Leash no longer than six feet; no pets in federal buildings | $5 one-day vehicle pass or $40 annual pass |
The dog park itself has a gap in the published rules. The general Sandy Springs parks FAQ says pets must stay leashed. The dog park's own page does not say how that rule applies inside the fenced yards. It also lists no separate hours, vaccination or tag requirements, or fees. The signs at the gate are the best guide to the yards on your first visit after the reopening.
Island Ford Grew by About Two Miles This Summer
Island Ford, at 8800 Roberts Drive, is the national park's Sandy Springs unit. It changed more this year than the dog park did. On July 1, 2026, the National Park Service reopened the Island Ford trail system after maintenance and restoration work. The project added about two miles of new trail, taking the network from 4.8 miles to nearly 7.
The Park Service says the new routes reach areas that used to be hard to get to. They also add clearly defined loops and out-and-back options, which are meant to discourage informal trails. Returning visitors will find better trail surfaces, more signs and updated wayfinding. The Chattahoochee National Park Conservancy, the park's official fundraising partner, raised more than $400,000 from individual donors and the wider community to design and build the improvements.
Dogs can use every trail in the recreation area on a leash no longer than six feet. The one place they can't go is inside. The Island Ford visitor center is in the historic Hewlett Lodge, a federal building, so only trained service animals are allowed in. The visitor center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Thanksgiving Day and December 25. The trails are open for day use from dawn to dusk. A walk that includes a stop at the lodge works best with two people, so one can wait outside with the dog.
Island Ford requires an entrance pass. The Park Service currently posts a $5 standard pass, which covers one private vehicle and everyone in it for the day, and a $40 annual park pass. At eight day visits, the annual pass equals the cost of buying day passes. The fee page was last updated in 2024, so the prices posted on site are the ones that count.
The Next Trail Segment Is Still a Proposal
Morgan Falls is also the starting point for the next planned piece of the Springway. Segment 2C, part of the proposed Morgan Falls Loop, is not built and not yet funded. At its October 6 meeting, the City Council voted 4 to 2 to apply for a $3 million state grant for it, Rough Draft Atlanta reported. The design and funding both depend on that grant. Another round of state applications could come in the spring. For this fall, the walkable route from the dog park is the existing 1.88-mile connector to Roswell Road.
Two Dates at the Dog Park This Month
The renovated park has two events in the same week:
- Wednesday, October 14, 2 p.m.: the ribbon-cutting at 100 Morgan Falls Road. The city has invited residents and their dogs, and K-9 Yeager will be there.
- Saturday, October 17, noon to 3 p.m.: Paws & Pastries, the city's 7th annual dog socialization event. The city promises pastries, tennis balls, prizes and a costume contest. Costume entries have to be in by 12:30 p.m., and judging starts at 1 p.m. The city says the contest happens once and will not be repeated later in the afternoon.
If your dog is entering the contest, plan to arrive before 12:30. Island Ford's trails are open from dawn, so a morning walk there followed by Paws & Pastries at noon makes for a full Saturday.
Parks and trails also shape how a home is used day to day: which park is close enough for a walk before work, and which trailhead is worth the drive. At Dawn Anderson, we track details like these across Sandy Springs because they come up with clients. If you are weighing a move within the city and want to talk through how a particular street connects to the river, the Springway or Island Ford, schedule a free market consultation and we will go through it with you.
