Residents urge commissioners to honor Moss Ferry Park conservation terms, oppose pickleball courts

Several residents told the Carroll County Board of Commissioners on April 1 that the county should preserve Moss Ferry Park as a passive, nature-focused site and should not install pickleball courts.

Residents said the 105-acre tract, donated by Jeff Matthews, carries a conservation easement and related donation documents that, they contend, restrict development such as paved lots, lighting and organized sports. "It was donated with a very specific intent to be a passive park," said Ron Butler, a Moss Ferry Road resident. "So that's what we need to do."

The complaint surfaced during the public-comment portion of the meeting and drew multiple speakers who live adjacent to or near the park. Neville Brewer said the 2021 deed of conservation easement set the park's purpose as "nature-based outdoor recreation opportunities available to the general public, such as walking, hiking, trail bicycling on designated trails, education [and] nature observation," and that organized or competitive sports were not intended. "Pickleball courts are not passive activities for a park such as this," Brewer said, adding that courts would generate noise and traffic that would intrude on neighbors.

Donald Ethridge, who said he lives adjacent to the park, cited environmental concerns including additional runoff into Sandy Creek (a tributary of the Dog River), potential loss of identified rare plants documented with the Georgia Native Plant Society, and the presence of three high-pressure natural gas lines crossing the property. "We were solicited and had many conversations ... for our support for Moss Ferry Park as a passive park," Ethridge said. "Please don't put it on the Moss Ferry Park site. It's just not what we were promised."

Anne Ethridge, also a nearby resident and member of the Georgia Native Plant Society, said volunteers had provided a list of plants for protection and that neighbors had hoped the park would open for walking this spring. Michael Perry Webb, another adjacent resident, said he understands both sides and that any park improvements should be done in a way "that would be received in the community."

Chair Michelle Morgan told the speakers that Parks Director Ben Skipper would be available after the meeting to meet with Moss Ferry residents and review concerns. The chair noted the board does not typically comment during public comments while it researches issues, but offered the post-meeting meeting as a next step.

No formal action was taken at the meeting regarding the park; residents asked the county to honor the donation agreement and conservation easement and to refrain from adding non-passive features such as pickleball courts.