Linear Park Preparations Moving Forward

The Powder Springs City Council was presented with three different plans Wednesday for the first phase of the Linear Park, which included a playground, restrooms, concessions and a covered picnic area.

The park is set to be built in four stages on 35 acres across from the on Sailors Parkway at the Silver Comet Trail.

Croy Engineering, the city’s engineering firm, estimated the plans’ costs for the first phase, which has a $185,000 budget from impact fees:

• A playground and restrooms—$116,000
• A playground and restrooms with a covered picnic area—$125,000
• A playground and restrooms with concessions—$136,000

Council members at first showed hesitations about the concession stand, noting that customers might not come with regularity like they would with baseball fields.

“It would be great if we had a whole ball field, then concessions would be useful,” Councilwoman Cheryl Sarvis said.

But they suggested possibly using it as storage until more of the park is built, or opening it up just during peak seasons or weekends.

“I think (those using the Silver Comet Trail) would stop for drinks,” Councilman Chris Wizner said. “Nobody’s going to get rich off of it, but I think we’ve got enough independent vendors here in town that somebody would jump at” the opportunity.

Paving at the park will come from SPLOST funds.

The city will now solicit bids for the first phase before moving forward with any decisions. Additions for further phases aren't yet set in stone, but one item being discussed is a dog park.

In other business:

• Director Greg Ramsey gave a presentation on renovating a section of sidewalk on Lost Lakes Drive in the Lost Mountain Lakes subdivision for $5,465. Councilwoman Nancy Hudson questioned the prioritization of the sidewalk repairs over other needed ones in the city. Ramsey said it’s because complaints on the Lost Lakes sidewalk predate others. Hudson noted decaying conditions along New Macland Road, and the council requested a prioritization list for sidewalk repairs. Members will vote on the repairs at Monday’s 7 p.m. meeting in the building.
• Ramsey said for the city’s toilet rebate program has been used, with three residents having pending applications. The program reimburses either $50 or $100 to those who replace their toilets with more water-efficient ones. The council suggested seeing if funds could be found to reimburse the pending applications, then letting other residents know the funds won’t be available for the rest of the fiscal year.
• The council will make appointments to the Planning & Zoning Commission on Monday.
• Members will also vote on an alcohol license for the Brownsville Road and on special use approval for a lightly used women’s clothing store to move into the shopping center at 1050 Sailors Parkway.