Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks And Recreation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Alpharetta staff outline Wacky World, pool openings and capital projects; lighting work tied to council budget
Summary
Director George Rogers and parks staff told the Rec Board Wacky World is nearly complete and tentatively eyed to open May 23 (pending a final concrete pour); the pool is slated to open on Memorial Day and light‑pole replacements and a city fee study were announced but remain contingent on council approval and consultant reports.
City parks staff and Director George Rogers gave the Rec Board a multi‑point update on capital projects and operations, from the near‑completion of the Wacky World playground to a planned fee study that will review all city recreation fees.
Rogers said staff are "anticipating opening Wacky World on Saturday, May 23 at 10:00," but emphasized that the date is not final: the opening depends on whether crews can complete a concrete pour that connects the restroom to the parking area. He also confirmed the city plans to open the pool on Memorial Day (May 23) at noon.
Rogers described lighting upgrades on the city's agenda: North Park has a notice to proceed, but the Wills Park light‑pole project is dependent on the council approving the capital budget for the next fiscal year. "We are beginning work on it with that anticipation, but we have not assumed it's going to be approved," Rogers told the board.
Other updates included construction progress at the equestrian center (new arenas and seating walls), replacement of wooden field poles with concrete poles and LED fixtures (staff aim to complete initial phases by the fall season), and a repaving and ADA reconfiguration at the North Park senior center funded with a community development block grant. Rogers also discussed the farmhouse project on Old Milton: construction drawings are roughly 75% complete and staff are awaiting a Georgia Department of Transportation permit before on‑site construction begins.
Recreation staff (Matt) briefed the board on events and operations: summer camps and Wills Park programs are near capacity, and staff estimated Taste of Alpharetta could draw more than 25,000 people; crews will run shuttles and use community‑center parking to help manage crowds. Matt said staffing levels for camps and lifeguards are sufficient this year and that camp training is scheduled for May 29.
The board asked about a planned fee study; Rogers said the city will hire an outside consultant to review all user charges and make objective recommendations, and that the study is not presented as a revenue‑raising exercise. Board members requested a budget workshop and more detail when the consultant's work is ready.
Why it matters: The updates affect park availability, event logistics and near‑term construction activity that could limit access to portions of parks during renovations. Several items (light poles, some capital funding) are contingent on council approval or weather-dependent construction tasks.
Next steps: Staff will circulate save‑the‑dates and monitor the concrete pour/weather window for Wacky World; the consultant scope for the fee study and the submitted budget will be shared with the board when available.
