Residents Lobby Roswell To Buy Land For Parks

Sign up for the Roswell Patch newsletter!

---

Roswell citizens interested in recreation, preservation and connectivity are calling on the city to acquire 53 acres of undeveloped land along the south side of Holcomb Bridge Road.

The property contains a beautiful natural canyon, creeks that flow into a 52 acre lake that flows directly into the Chattahoochee River, and Roswell’s last large stand of never timbered, old growth trees.

Led by L.W. “Tuck” Tucker, a retired airline captain, instrumental in Roswell’s earlier preservation of riverfront properties and now chair of The Seven Branches Legacy Project, has identified broad community support for the project.

The boards of 13 area homeowners’ associations representing 5,749 homes have declared their support for this effort. In just a few weeks over 1,700 individuals have also signed a Change.org petition asking city leaders to purchase the land.

“What makes this land so attractive for preservation - its steep, rocky slopes, highly erodible soils; pristine waters; and proximity to the river – is also what makes it such a challenge to develop,” said former Roswell City Council member and Legacy Project Co-chair Paula Winiski. “From an environmental and community standpoint, it would be such a tragedy to lose this chance to save a real natural wonder.”

David Tolleson, who is also a former Roswell City Council member and current East Roswell Alliance co-founder and Legacy Project leader, agrees.

“This land offers the chance to provide beautiful parkland while also offering a connection between East Roswell Park and its neighboring schools and library to Roswell’s River Parks,“ Tolleson added. “The land also offers countless environmental and educational opportunities for the K-12 students at those five nearby schools. Of course, with the advent of new higher density development in the area, greenspace and alternative transportation options will be more important than ever.”

Michael Hitt, police officer and Roswell’s unofficial historian, said that in addition to abandoned gold mines, the land also contains the original Old Alabama Road bed, which is most likely the way Roswell King entered the area that would become his new city.

You won’t find land in Roswell that has greater environmental, connectivity and historic assets,” Tuck stated. “I just hope our leaders will save it while we still have this rare opportunity.”

---

Image via Shutterstock