Wish list includes small tracts for pocket parks

From the Marietta Daily Journal on Thursday, July 3, 2008 by Ashley Hungerford, staff writer

MARIETTA - Size doesn't matter, commissioners say.

As they consider whether to ask voters to approve a second $40 million bond to purchase parkland, members of the Board of Commissioners say the wish lists will include small tracts that could be used as pocket parks.

"The first bond emphasized large tracts of land that were in danger of being developed soon," Cobb Chairman Sam Olens said. "The second bond must consider both small and large tracts, choosing the best lands, to specifically consider parts of the county that did not receive new park land with the first bond."

Commissioner Tim Lee said adding parks to areas not already served should be top priority, "no matter what the size."

Lee noted that the cost per acre fluctuates dramatically through the county. Land in west Cobb, where large tracts of undeveloped land are more plentiful, cost less than similar tracts in east Cobb.

"I would advocate for pocket parks, assemblage of property that may provide connectivity between existing parks and trails, and redevelopment sites, as well, that might make sense to convertto green space," he said.

Commissioner Helen Goreham said the county should again allow a citizen oversight committee to prioritize properties, taking into consideration "price, historical significance and ecological features."

In 2006, an advisory committee prioritized potential properties into four tiers. That complete list can be found at http://prca.cobbcountyga.gov/parks-bond-info.htm

The county secured five of the six top properties proposed by the advisory committee. The sixth is a 54-acre tract owned by Wylene Tritt, on Roswell Road in northeast Cobb. The county is still negotiating that purchase.

Paul Paulson, leader of the Cobb Parks Coalition, said he also has others in mind that have potential to benefit the county, such as more than 20 acres owned by the Canup family on Villa Rica Road in west Cobb.

Although the county will likely pursue properties still on the list from 2006, Olens said new properties could be considered. But he encourages residents to contact the property owners before nominating a property to make sure they are interested.

Public input is key to the parks plan, leaders agree.

"Because the county is faced with runaway growth and mounting urban pressures, I believe the county should focus on a program that has unprecedented public support for the success of the program," Commissioner Annette Kesting said.

The county has purchased more than 309 acres using $37.67 million of the $40 million parks bond approved by voters in 2006. The county still has more than $2 million left that they could still use to purchase land.

The purchases include the 137.45-acre Stana property on Brownsville Road in southwest Cobb, $5.76 million; 112 acres of the Bullard-Stockton tract along Dallas Highway in west Cobb, $18.6 million; 26.5 acres of the Mabry Centennial Farm at the corner of Wesley Chapel and Sandy Plains Roads, $4.2 million; 16 acres near Henderson Road off Veteran's Memorial Highway near the Chattahoochee River, $2.4 million; and 17.7 acres of the Price property at Stilesboro Road near Acworth-Due West Road, $1.4 million.

The county will also use $5 million of the parks bond money to help purchase the 95-acre Hyde Farm in east Cobb.

The Trust for Public Land purchased that working farm off Lower Roswell Road for $14.19 million in June. The land will eventually be divided between Cobb County and the National Park Service.

ahungerford@mdjonline.com