|
Gwinnett
greenspace program
hits high of 2,600 acres since 1998
By Phil Hoskins
Director, Gwinnett Department of Community
Services
Special to GwinnettForum.com
(Editor's note: With the way Gwinnett
County is leading the state in acquiring greenspace, it's hard to
keep up with all what's included in the county land inventory. We
asked Phil Hoskins to bring us up to date, and this is his report.
-- eeb)
NOV. 27, 2001 - - Since 1998, Gwinnett County has embarked on an
aggressive campaign to acquire large tracts of land for preservation
and passive recreational use. Prior to this initiative, the County's
primary focus for park land was to establish active community parks
for Gwinnett County residents.
These community parks typically provide for youth and adults sports
activities, picnicking, play areas, multi-purpose trails, pools,
activity buildings, and other related activities.
The challenge for Gwinnett County includes providing for active
parks and recreation needs while promoting the acquisition of passive
park lands. These efforts have been greatly supported by Gwinnett
County citizens with this approval of the last two SPLOST (Special
Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) programs.
The Board of Commissioners provided $60 million for Parks and Recreation
in the 1996 referendum and increased the Parks and Recreation allocation
significantly in 2000, with a minimum funding level of $192 million.
The following outlines several highlights of the Gwinnett County
Greenspace Program:
- Since 1998, Gwinnett County has acquired approximately 2,600
acres of passive recreational land at a cost of over $61 million.
- Little Mulberry Park located in northeast Gwinnett County, is
Gwinnett County's largest park encompassing 890 acres of land.
Tribble Mill Park is second in size at 700 acres.
- Greenspace purchased by the County is distributed geographically
throughout the County. Recent properties acquired in more developed
areas of the County include: Graves Road (70 acres); McDaniel
Farm (134 acres); Kanoheda area (25 acres); Deshong Road (208
acres); and Five Forks (25 acres).
- Gwinnett County is in the process of developing a County-wide
Open Space and Greenways Master Plan to provide future direction
for the greenspace program. Opportunities for public input, including
public meetings and creation of a citizens-steering committee,
have assisted in the effort. The master plan is scheduled for
completion in April, 2002.
- Gwinnett County was one of the first counties in Georgia approved
for the Georgia Greenspace Program funding. Gwinnett County and
cities in the County received $3.3 million in 2001.
The County's first acquisition with these funds were used to purchase
the Alcovy River grist mill site, including 11 acres of greenspace.
The remainder of the State funds for FY-01 were included in the
purchase of the County's latest acquisition, a 350-acre land tract
east of Norris Lake in south Gwinnett County.
-- 30 --
|
