Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks And Recreation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Henry County presents parks master plan progress, lists improvements and upcoming projects
Summary
Parks and Recreation executive director Jonathan Penn updated the Board of Commissioners on completed and planned upgrades across county parks, including field renovations, a new disc golf course, playgrounds, and accessibility improvements; commissioners asked about impact fees, parking and cameras.
Henry County officials gave an update Tuesday on the county’s comprehensive parks master plan, detailing completed work, ongoing projects and near-term installations across multiple parks. Jonathan Penn, executive director of Henry County Parks and Recreation, told the Board of Commissioners the master plan was approved in August of last year and staff are “well on upon our way with implementing things within our comprehensive parts master plan.”
Penn said recent work includes laser grading and fencing of athletic fields, new parking surfacing and striping, playground installations (with contributions from the Kiwanis Club), repaving of walking trails and accessibility upgrades. “At Bud Kelly Park, we are installing currently the new disc golf course — 18 hole, pro level, intermediate and beginner level course,” he said, adding the county expects to host tournaments using courses at multiple parks.
The presentation listed park-by-park accomplishments and near-term items: Sandy Ridge (field regrading, new concrete for accessibility, fencing, BMX improvements, renovated walking trail, planned tennis/pickleball courts and concessions); Cochran Park (field and parking upgrades, new batting cage and playground, pending concession installation); J.P. Moseley (new fitness court, gym and lobby floor replacement, AC replacement, planned playground, outdoor pickleball courts and dog park); North Mount Carmel (walkways, digital sign, playgrounds and pavilions); Nash Farm (lake deck and black box theater roof work); Bud Kelly (disc golf); and other parks where landscaping, playgrounds, skate-park planning and bridge renovations are planned.
Commissioners asked for clarifications. Commissioner Price pressed whether the county had received impact fees from the City of McDonough; Penn said the county has not received those fees to date and that staff have been requesting them for about two years. Commissioners also asked about temporary parking and security cameras at parks; Penn said the county’s DOT created a temporary parking area at one site and that the county is expanding fleet of Flock cameras and working with the county IT and broadband contractor to provide internet to park sites to make additional cameras viable.
Why it matters: The master plan guides park capital spending and facility placement across a growing county. Several projects rely on donated funds or impact fees from cities under service-delivery agreements; delays in those revenues affect the timing of some improvements.
The board thanked parks staff for the work and moved on to the next item; commissioners and residents expressed appreciation for visible improvements at Sandy Ridge and other parks.
