A staff member, identified in the transcript only as “Staff member,” said construction has begun at Mimosa Hall as part of a City of Roswell Founders Park project that brings "just over $5,000,000" in infrastructure work to a 24-acre downtown park plan.

"The vision for Founders Park is connecting 24 acres of parkland in our historic downtown Roswell," the staff member said, adding that the current phase focuses on parking, stormwater infrastructure and walking paths and includes a new special-event facility.

The project will disturb roughly 4½ to 5 acres of the overall 24-acre site, the staff member said. Construction has required selective tree removal and clearing of invasive bamboo to create space for a special-event venue that the staff member said will accommodate about 200 to 250 guests. The staff member said some parking is being added near Mimosa Hall and that existing parking at Bullock Hall will be used to limit new surface parking.

Officials described the stormwater work as a key element of the effort. The staff member said the city is installing detention facilities to manage runoff and reduce local flooding and erosion in the historic district, noting that modern stormwater regulations were enacted after many of the nearby homes were built.

The staff member said the city previously invested about $600,000 in improvements at Town Square and added roughly five acres to the Founders Park holdings with the acquisition of Holly Hill. Future work envisioned by staff includes connecting Holly Hill, Mimosa Hall, Barrington Hall and Town Square with trails and a series of smaller projects after the current large-scale phase.

On replanting, the staff member said the city will return with a plan that includes "a 100% native planting on the property, including 12 additional trees" to support reforestation around the project.

No motions or formal votes were described in the transcript excerpt provided. The staff member said the work is intended to install infrastructure first so events and activities can be held with fewer future disruptions; funding sources beyond the city investment amount were not specified in the transcript.

Community members, event organizers and downtown businesses were identified in the presentation as likely users and beneficiaries of the expanded event capacity and improved park infrastructure. The staff member said the project team tried to minimize new parking and to locate stormwater and parking elements where they would have the least impact on existing trees and historic assets.

City staff said they will return to discuss planting and other follow-up details after the infrastructure phase is finished.