2 Recreation Centers to be Built in South Forsyth County (Cumminghome

home > local news > government & politics

2 Recreation Centers to be Built in South Forsyth County

Originally Published Jul 3, 2009, 4:58pm (Updated Jul 3, 2009, 5:06pm)

6 comment(s)

Forsyth County Commissioners voted Thursday to allow planning to move forward on 2 new recreation centers in South Forsyth County. One recreation center had previously been planned at Fowler Park off hwy 9. The 2nd center, also known as the Buice recreation center, will be located near Lambert High school at the intersection of Old Atlanta and Nichols road.

Recreation Centers to be located off Hwy 9 and Old Atlanta Road

The five member board of commissioners had previously voted to approve the Buice Recreation Center for the county's master plan, but stopped short of allowing the parks and recreation department to begin planning its construction until funding was available to allow for design and construction of both centers simultaneously. County CFO Bill Thomas assured the commissioners that funding is available, which allowed the commissioners to make the commitment.

The vote passed 3-2 with commissioners Harrell (district 3) and Boff (district 5) dissenting. "While I am happy to give the people of district 2 their fair share of amenities, I remain concerned that the citizens of district 5 still have no projects committed for them." Harrell said. Since the $100M parks and recreation bond was approved, district 2 has acquired 3 tracts of land, a senior center, and now a recreation center. District 5 has acquired nothing.

Current greenspace tracts acquired with $100M bond funds

District 5 commissioner Jim Boff pointed out that 2 of the 3 tracts purchased in south Forsyth for green space in district 2 (Harrison and McClure) are almost completely unbuildable, and likely to have remained as green space anyway. "Not only is the McClure tract 100% unbuildable floodplain, but the 1 mile access road we are building to the property will no doubt lead to more and denser development in the area sooner rather than later." Boff said. Boff added that the price paid for the Harrison tract was higher per acre than any price ever considered for the Lanier Golf Course. "If my fellow commissioners are truly concerned about all of the people in the county, then I don’t understand why district 5 cannot get any funding for its projects" Boff said.

The new recreation centers are planned to be similar to the existing Central Park recreation center, which has 2 gymnasiums, a fitness area, a mezzanine walking area, art room, aerobics classroom, dance classroom, and meeting rooms.

Click HERE for more info...

Comments

6 comment(s) on this page. Add your own comment below.

Arubalisa

Jul 4, 2009 11:09am [ 1 ]

An Aquatic center available for use to everyone, not just senior citizens, would have been a better use of funds.

Earl Polo

Jul 4, 2009 11:46am [ 2 ]

A new day, a new BOC alliance! It's pay back time. The Commissioner that was elected "out of District" may have thrown-in with his other constituents. As a result, the new South Forsyth County HOA Amenity IMBYs, got their mommas and them a recreation center. It goes along nicely with all of the other pork they have received as identified by Commissioner Harrell. What's the political payoff or payback for the third vote? I don't think a recreational center close to a new public high school "Gets Aggressive Toward Growth."

Commissioner Harrell's attempt to rationalize equality and a fair distribution of County amenities falls on deaf ears when he is "over shouted" by the current political spoils system of the soon to be "lame duck administration." However, he appears to have made an honest effort to include the well being of other than just District 2 in his decision making process.

Mary Freidman

Jul 4, 2009 3:11pm [ 3 ]

Commissioner Boff, I voted for you but your whining does nothing to help get anything for district 5. Some of us do not want that stupid golf course and you are thinking about the 125 or so homes around the golf course and not your entire district or county. It looks like you are going to just sit by while the money goes to other projects instead of getting busy to find alternatives to the golf course! You are allowing all of us to suffer because you are one-track minded.

We know Boff will read this so maybe he can elaborate on what projects he has in mind that cannot get funding? He probably will not but I am asking anyway.

Jim Harrell does not have a clue what he is doing or has done or what county he is in. Unless Charlie tells him.

In fact, as he said the other night to Brian Tam, "You don't know what I don't know"! I think Jim Harrell is correct and nobody knows what he does not know, we just know it's a bunch! In fact, he probably does not know more than anyone else on the board.

Jim Harrell is not looking for equality, he is paying back for votes from the golf course people or it has been rumored that his selling the parent company of this publication to one of the golf course people may have something to do with it.

Just my observations and comments and hope Boff will remember there are others in District 5 and Harrell will just remember something.

Bob Wilson

Jul 5, 2009 8:04pm [ 4 ]

This works for me. I live in south Forsyth and will enjoy not having to make the trek up to Central Park. The Fowler location is much more convenient for me, but I am happy they found a way to make both locatons work.

I am suprised Dave Richards hasn't weighed in here, he is usually against most everything that makes sense for Forsyth county.

JOHN

Jul 7, 2009 9:22am [ 5 ]

Thank you to Charlie Laughinghouse for supporting the Buice property Recreation Center.

Jim Callihan

Jul 7, 2009 5:56pm [ 6 ]

I suppose the only appropriate response would be "How nice???"