Woodstock Acquires Land For New Park

WOODSTOCK, GA -- Nearly 10 years after a group was formed to bolster and expand the park and greenspace in and around Woodstock, the city is well on its way to becoming a hub of passive and active recreation areas available for residents to use.

Monday's action taken by the Woodstock City Council adds to that mission. Council members at their Oct. 23 meeting ratified the purchase of 24.42 acres of land along Trickum Road near Little River. It adds to the 40.7 acres the city recently acquired east of the thoroughfare and 36.32 acres donated earlier this year to the Greenprints Alliance, the group formed to help create a network of trails and park land around he city.

In all, Woodstock will have about 101 acres of land it can turn into passive park space catering to residents on the east side of the city.

While final amenities are open to stakeholder input and discussion, the Greenprints Master Plan adopted by city leaders in 2008 calls for a multi-use trail to be installed on a segment of the site (SIGN UP: Get Patch's Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app).

Parks and Recreation Director Preston Pooser said the topography of the site makes it suitable for a passive park featuring pavilions, trails and playgrounds. A public input session where the community can express their ideas about potential uses will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 4 at the Chambers at City Center.

Woodstock notes the purchase also allows it to protect the river and possibly construct canoe launch along the body of water.

“We are excited to preserve this land from future development and make it a park on the east side of our city,” says Mayor Donnie Henriques.

Colin Ake, chairman of the Greenprints Alliance's Board of Directors, noted the organization is "dedicated to getting people outdoors by bringing a vibrant trail system to life."

"We are excited to see our acreage as a part of a larger park and are eager to work with the city of Woodstock to plan and implement the park," he added.

You can learn more about Greenprints Alliance by visiting its website.

Images via city of Woodstock