Oconee County approves pre-application for $3 million stewardship grant to expand Heritage Park; 110.7-acre purchase discussed

The Oconee County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 30 approved a resolution authorizing county staff to submit a pre-application to the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program seeking $3,000,000 to help expand Heritage Park.

County staff said the proposed grant would support purchase of a 110.72-acre tract adjacent to the southern boundary of Heritage Park and development and refurbishment of trails, stream-buffer restoration and passive recreation amenities. The county would seek the $3 million grant with a required 50% local match.

The request is intended to increase Heritage Park and its preserve area to roughly 474 acres. Justin, county staff member presenting the item, told commissioners the acquisition includes about 579 feet of frontage on the Apalachee River and a two-acre pond, and that the parcel would expand the county’s equestrian and hiking trail network. “So the ask is for the board of commissioners to approve the resolution in your packet that authorizes me to move forward with the pre application process,” Justin said.

The county said a sales price has been agreed at $1,940,000 based on an appraisal. Staff told commissioners the purchase’s closing would be delayed until January to allow the seller to realize tax advantages and that the county would seek a letter allowing retroactive inclusion of the purchase in the grant application if the grant is awarded next summer. Staff said the purchase would be subject to the outcome of the grant process.

Resident Dorsa Trapnell, who identified herself as the long-time steward of the property proposed for sale, urged the commission to approve the acquisition and asked the county to consider naming the tract “the Trample Preserve at Heritage Park.” “It is our sincere hope that the unspilled nature of this property will bring joy and peace to future generations,” Trapnell said.

Why it matters: The county’s proposal pairs land conservation with expanded public access—an acquisition that would directly enlarge a public park and add riverfront acreage and trail miles. The county told commissioners the grant application would require a 50% local match and that final grant awards are not expected until the summer following application.

Procedure and next steps: A commissioner moved to approve the resolution; the motion was seconded and the board voted “aye.” Staff will move forward with the pre-application process and continue coordinating closing and grant-retroactivity documentation as the application proceeds. The purchase itself was discussed and staff described terms and timing, but staff stated the acquisition would be subject to allowance of the grant; the transcript records discussion but does not show a separate recorded final vote on closing the purchase at the Sept. 30 meeting.

Quotes in context: Justin presented the proposal and its cost and timing; Trapnell provided public comment describing nearly 30 years of stewardship and requested a preserve designation. The transcript contains one inconsistent dollar figure later in the meeting (a reference to “$33,000,000”) that conflicts with the $3,000,000 stewardship grant amount discussed; staff earlier and in materials described the grant as $3,000,000.

Remaining questions and clarifications: The county identified the sales price ($1,940,000), river frontage (579 feet), and the requirement of a 50% match for the requested grant. The record shows the closing is scheduled for January to accommodate the seller’s tax timing and that staff will pursue a retroactivity letter for the grant process. The transcript does not record a separate final vote authorizing immediate closing outside the grant contingency.

Ending: Staff will file the pre-application for the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program and continue due diligence and coordination with the seller; the board approved moving forward with the pre-application at the Sept. 30 meeting.