Greenspace Featuring Trails, Creek, Lake Opens Off Lackey Road

MILTON, GA — The public may now explore the City of Milton’s Lackey Road greenspace – featuring trails, a creek, flourishing flora and wildlife, and a lake as a focal point.

The 106-acre natural preserve sits in southwest Milton off a remote gravel road that is easily accessible from Arnold Mill Road. It currently features a 1.5-mile loop trail plus a roughly 0.3-mile trail that goes to Sweet Apple Road, with plans to add more trails in the coming years.

“We can’t wait for Milton citizens to connect with nature in this beautiful property,” Milton Parks and Recreation Manager Tom McKlveen said. “It’s really a gem, and the start of even more great things to come.”

Milton voters paved the way for this moment in November 2016, when they resoundingly approved a $25 million greenspace bond for the purchase of properties to be conserved and/or for “passive” use, as in there could be trails or walking areas but no new buildings or active recreation programming such as sports. Learn more about the program online.

In December 2018, with the guidance of the Milton Greenspace Advisory Committee and approval of the City Council, the City bought this particular property off Lackey Road from the Wolff family. The Wolffs owned and enjoyed the property for generations, calling it Lhakapani – a combination that translates in Hindi generally to abundance of water for the creeks, waterfalls and lake within it.

Bernard Wolff recalled staying in a simple structure on weekends with his family while growing up decades ago before eventually moving to Lackey Road fulltime. The family installed some trails with help from the U.S. Forestry Service, while woodpeckers, turtles, deer and other birds and animals have long called it home.

The Wolffs are pleased that their beloved, serene getaway has become an accessible, well-maintained greenspace open to those who enjoy spending time in nature.

“We really did not want to see this place destroyed by development,” Bernard Wolff said. “We thought that the highest and best use was for make it somewhere that people could enjoy.”

Visitors to the Lackey Road greenspace can park in a newly installed gravel parking lot that can accommodate about 15 vehicles. They should come prepared with hike-able shoes to traverse a moderate trail, with occasionally steeper slopes, as well as intermittent creek crossings.

This is the first of the City’s passive greenspaces to open to the public. But it won’t be the last, with new trails currently being added now at the former Milton Country Club and other projects in the works.

In addition, the new trail, pier and pavilion at Providence Park should be accessible – and that park open – in the coming weeks. Learn more about that project online.