Elizabeth Parks and Recreation seeks county land, outlines trails and open-space master plan

At a Feb. 19 Elbert County work study session, Mike Barney, director of the Elizabeth Parks and Recreation District, told county commissioners the district is finishing public engagement for a Greater Elizabeth parks, trails and open-space master plan and asked the county to re-evaluate allowing use of a county-owned parcel south of Spring Valley for a regional park.

The plan, Barney said, is intended to guide how the district and partners serve a growing population across the district and parts of the town of Elizabeth and the Elizabeth School District. "We currently have a survey out, a community survey that we're trying to get feedback on," Barney said, adding the survey will remain open through the end of the month.

The request that drew the most detailed discussion was the county-owned property near Spring Valley. Barney said the parcel could be suitable for regional amenities — he listed possibilities including trails, a bike park and, if water were available, a 5-to-7-acre pond — but noted water availability made a pond infeasible. "When they really got down to the quantity of water that would be needed to sustain a pond like that, it just wasn't viable," he said. He described the parcel as a potential site for multiuse trails and possibly artificial-turf fields that require less irrigation.

County staff cautioned that deed restrictions and existing uses limit options for the property. A county staff member said, "There's deed restrictions associated with that property. It's only usable for certain uses," and noted an existing fire station occupies part of the site.

Barney also asked the commissioners for an update on a separate county-owned tract known in the meeting as Elizabeth and The Pines open space. He said past conversations had focused on fire mitigation, county liability for unmaintained land and a possible arrangement for residents or an HOA to take over maintenance. Commissioners and staff discussed checking records and whether residents had organized to manage the parcel; no formal transfer or agreement was made at the session.

The district described a proposed trail corridor that could connect Cimarron Park to the local high school and then into town trails. Staff said the drainage through Cimarron Park would likely limit the corridor to a natural-surface trail rather than a paved, stroller-accessible path. Barney said the district aims to make as many trails as possible multiuse, including equestrian use, and to permit pedal-assist e-bikes while drawing a line against motorized vehicles with throttles.

Other amenities discussed during the study session included potential additional dog parks (the district said usage of its dog park at Casey Jones Park suggests demand), and interest from a local group in an archery range. Barney said the district is collecting preferences through workshops and the survey and will analyze the results before beginning layout and conceptual designs in the coming weeks.

Barney said the district has worked with local fire districts on mitigation on its own properties, including Casey Jones Park and Evans Park, and has used prescribed burns and other measures under local fire-permit processes to reduce wildfire risk.

No formal actions or votes were taken at the work study session. Commissioners expressed interest in the district's planning work and in staff reviewing the county-owned parcels and prior notes on Elizabeth and The Pines; the district said it will return with conceptual designs for commissioner review.

The district is working with SCJ Consultants on the master plan and plans to compile survey results and present mapped recommendations and conceptual designs to commissioners in a future meeting.