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Alpharetta parks staff outline bond projects, Field 5 drainage fix and accessibility plans for Wacky World
Summary
Parks staff reported end-of-year maintenance spending, completed Field 5 drainage repairs, a bid process for bond-funded park projects with potential fall groundbreaking and plans to include accessible surfacing at Wacky World; North Park parking and bathroom upgrades remain under review.
Eric Miley and other Parks and Recreation staff updated the Recreation Board on maintenance, capital projects and access improvements across city parks.
Eric Miley said departments are reviewing accounts at the end of the fiscal year to fund incomplete maintenance and repair items—tree removal, concrete repairs, sod and landscaping—across parks and athletic fields. He reported the walking trail at Wells Park was repaved (about 90% complete) in coordination with bond project planning and that Field 5's drainage issue was addressed by resleeving the storm pipe beneath the field so the surface drains more effectively.
Senior Operations Division staff (presented by Mr. Kirby and other staff) said proposals for remaining bond projects covering Wills Park, the Equestrian Center, Rucker Road and Union Hill Park are in the request-for-proposals and value-engineering phase. If procurement and value engineering proceed as expected, staff said they hope to break ground this fall. The second reading of the 2026 budget is scheduled for June 23, and staff reported requested funds remain in the proposed budget. One identified capital item is a proposed resurfacing (artificial turf) for Wills Park Field 5 at an estimated cost of $500,000, with $250,000 pledged by the baseball association as a 50/50 partnership.
Board members raised parking tensions at North Park between senior center users and pickleball players; staff said federal funding will support a ramp/ADA improvements and some restriping to improve handicap access but that full repaving timing depends on funding. Staff also discussed North Park restroom and concession improvements, noted the existing restroom building dates to the 1980s and recommended a design-build replacement to increase capacity and accessibility.
On playground accessibility, public commenter Kelly requested improved wheelchair/walker access at playgrounds (she referenced Rose Park and North Park). Parks staff said the planned rebuild of Wacky World will include an inclusive hard surface throughout the playground to accommodate wheelchairs and walkers and that the new design will address mulch and ground material concerns.
These were informational project and maintenance updates and planning items. Several capital items (turf funding, concession rework, ADA improvements) remain subject to formal budgeting, procurement and council approvals.
