DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
Dear Friends of Forsyth County Parks & Recreation,
As we reflect on the achievements and milestones of the past year, I am delighted to share with you the successes of Forsyth County Parks & Recreation in our 2023 Annual Report. It is with great pride that I highlight the remarkable progress we have made in fulfilling our mission to provide exceptional recreational opportunities and preserve our natural resources for the enjoyment of our community.
One of the hallmarks of our success is our unwavering commitment to fiscal responsibility and efficiency. I am thrilled to announce that in 2023, we achieved a remarkable 39% cost recovery, a testament to our prudent management of resources and dedication to maximizing value for our residents. This achievement underscores our commitment to providing outstanding recreational services while ensuring the responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars.
Furthermore, our dedication to expanding and enhancing our park system remains steadfast. In 2023, we embarked on significant endeavors to broaden the scope of recreational opportunities available to our community. I am excited to announce the addition of Lanierland Park Phase 2 to our park system, providing even more opportunities for outdoor recreation and leisure activities for families and individuals alike Additionally, through collaborative efforts with the Army Corps of Engineers, we successfully acquired the operation of Mary Alice Park on Lake Lanier, further enriching our waterfront offerings and expanding access to one of our county's most cherished natural resources
Equally important is our commitment to re-investing in our existing parks, ensuring that they remain vibrant, welcoming spaces for generations to come I am thrilled to share that construction is set to commence in 2024 on the complete renovation of Bennett Park, our County’s first park. This revitalization project will breathe new life into the park, offering enhanced amenities and recreational opportunities for all who visit.
Behind each of these achievements lies the dedication and hard work of our exceptional staff Their unwavering commitment to excellence is the driving force behind the success of our department. It is their passion, professionalism, and tireless efforts that enable us to fulfill our mission and continue to elevate the quality of life for residents throughout Forsyth County
As we look ahead to the future, I am filled with optimism and excitement for the possibilities that lie ahead. Together, with the support of our community and the dedication of our outstanding staff, I am confident that Forsyth County Parks & Recreation will continue to thrive and flourish, enriching the lives of all who call our county home.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership as we work together to create a healthier, happier, and more vibrant Forsyth County
Warm regards,
Kirk Franz, Director, Forsyth County Parks & Recreation
Charleston Park 5850 Charleston Park Rd Cumming, GA. 30041
Chattahoochee Pointe 5790 Chattahoochee Pointe Dr Suwanee, GA. 30024
Coal Mountain Park 3560 Settingdown Rd Cumming, GA. 30028
Matt Community Park 6555 Wallace Tatum Rd Cumming, GA. 30028
Midway Park 5100 Post Rd
Cumming, GA. 30040
Old Atlanta Park 810 Nichols Rd Suwanee, GA. 30024
Polo Fields
6050 Majors Rd Cumming, GA. 30040
Poole's Mill Park
7725 Poole's Mill Rd
Ballground, GA. 30107
Sawnee Mountain Park 3995 Watson Rd Cumming, GA. 30028
Ducktown Community Park 5895 Heardsville Rd Cumming, GA. 30028
Eagle's Beak Park 8420 Old Federal Rd Ballground, GA. 30107
Fowler Park 4110 Carolene Way Cumming, GA. 30040
Haw Creek Park 2205 Echols Rd Cumming, GA. 30041
Joint Venture Park 3660 Melody Mizer Ln Cumming, GA. 30041 Bennett Park 5930 Burruss Mill
Caney Creek Preserve 2755 Caney Rd Cumming, GA. 30041
Lanierland Park 6115 Jot-Em-Down Rd Cumming, GA. 30041
Shady Grove Campground 7800 Allyn Lane Memorial Way Cumming, GA. 30041
Sharon Springs Park 1950 Sharon Rd Cumming, GA. 30041
Six Mile Creek Park
6020 Browns Bridge Rd Cumming, GA. 30041
South Forsyth Soccer Complex
800 Kemp Rd Suwanee, GA. 30024
Windermere Park 3355 Windermere Pkwy Cumming, GA. 30041
Young Deer Creek Park 7300 Heard Rd Cumming, GA. 30041 Mary Alice
DEPARTMENT BUDGET
PARK HIGHLIGHTS
12 ACTIVE PARKS
Amenities vary by location but range from baseball/softball fields, turf and grass multi-purpose rectangle fields, outdoor basketball courts, tennis courts, a track and field area, and more!
Playgrounds
45 13
Passive parks feature nature themed play areas, while other locations vary in more active structures. Five (5) accessible and inclusive playgrounds can also be found throughout the park system.
Lake Parks
Located along the shoreline of Lake Lanier, our lake parks provide picnic areas, sand beaches, multi-purpose trails, camping, and boat launch ramps with courtesy docks. Charleston Park, Mary Alice Park, Shady Grove Campground, Young Deer Creek Park and Six Mile Creek Park are sure to be on visitors bucket lists!
Miles of Trails
Trail options include hiking, walking, and biking. Trails surfaces vary by location and include natural surface, rubberized, and paved.
Tennis Courts
Players of all skill levels and ages can be found taking part in private or group lessons, ALTA or USTA league play, or open play on the tennis courts at eight different park locations
Basketball Courts
Indoor courts can be found at our three (3) recreation centers: Central Park, Fowler Park and Old Atlanta Park. Outdoor courts are also available at Fowler Park, Sawnee Mountain Park and Sharon Springs Park.
AND FACILITIES
TOTAL ACRES OF PARKLAND: 2924
16 PASSIVE PARKS
Park users can be found camping, hiking, biking, kayaking, boating, or enjoying miles of trails while in a natural setting
Outdoor Pickleball Courts
With the demand and popularity growing in the sport of pickleball, outdoor courts have been added at Coal Mountain Park, Lanierland Park and Sharon Springs Park.
Athletic Fields
Forsyth County is home to fifty two (52) baseball/softball fields, as well as thirty six (36) multi-purpose rectangle fields.
Dog Parks
Even our furry friends have dedicated park space! Caney Creek Preserve, Fowler Park and Windermere Park offer fenced natural areas for off-leash play, while Coal Mountain Dog Park features both turf and natural options
Recreation Centers
Indoor classrooms provide space for programs such as art, dance, martial arts, gymnastics, camps, public meeting space and more! Centers also boast indoor gymnasiums that can be used for open play including basketball, pickleball and badminton, as well as cardio-weight areas and year-round fitness classes.
Nature Preserve Visitor Center
Sawnee Mountain Preserve Visitor Center not only provides information to park goers about conservation and preservation, but is also home to environmental education programs and outdoor adventure programs for all ages
P
A R K S P R O J E C T S &
I M P R
O V E M E N T S
BIG CREEK GREENWAY RENOVATIONS
On April 7, 2023, the Big Creek Greenway Phase 2 reopened for public use after an extensive renovation project. The project utilized a helical pier and steel truss system with pressure treated lumber decking to replace approximately 1 mile of existing boardwalk from the Union Hill Trailhead north to Fowler Park. Utilizing the innovative helical pier and upgraded decking design, the County will save time and money on future repairs for this section of the Greenway Trail.
BENNETT PARK GRANT FOR RENOVATIONS
Originally opened in 1978, Bennett Park is the oldest facility in the Forsyth County Parks & Recreation inventory After receiving community input and acquiring additional surrounding land, an updated master plan was finalized and approved to update and expand Bennett Park. In 2023, Forsyth County received the Improving Neighborhood Outcomes in Disproportionately Impacted Communities Grant in the amount of $2,200,000.00 to aid in the renovations and improvements Construction is scheduled to begin in 2024 and is estimated to take approximately 18 months for completion.
LANIERLAND PARK PHASE 2 OPENING
A ribbon cutting ceremony was held of August 19, 2023 to give the community a first look at Lanierland Park’s newest amenities including the new turf Miracle League field, four traditional baseball/softball fields, an inclusive playground, tennis and pickleball courts, as well an improved paved walking trail A field dedication ceremony also took place during this event to name Edge Field in honor of the years of commitment the Edge family has shown to the special needs community.
COAL MOUNTAIN PARK IMPROVEMENTS
Coal Mountain Park underwent several improvement projects in 2023 including upgrading the athletic complexes to LED sports lighting, converting one baseball/softball field from a traditional grass field to turf, and replacing the playground. Two tennis courts were also converted into six pickleball courts to provide additional outdoor court space for the community.
MARY ALICE PARK ACQUISITION
Forsyth County Parks & Recreation began operating Mary Alice Park in May of 2023. This park features a sand beach with designated swimming areas, a picnic pavilion and open green space, as well as access to Lake Lanier for boat launch purposes. Since taking over operations, Forsyth County Parks & Recreation has been focused on safety item such as removing dangerous trees and low hanging limbs, installing security cameras, and increasing park patrol efforts. Additional items that were improved in 2023 include improved drainage, additional picnic tables and grills, self serve payment kiosks, restroom and pavilion updates, as well as adding approximately 350 tons of beach sand
MATT COMMUNITY PARK
On October 5, 2023, an updated master plan for Matt Community Park Phase 2 was approved by the Board of Commissioners. This phase is set to include a recreation center with an adjoining public library, outdoor pickleball and basketball courts, as well as a redesigned and improved trail system Construction is currently on hold until funding is made available.
OLD ATLANTA PARK SPLASH PAD
Prior to the 2023 season kickoff at the Old Atlanta Park Splash Pad, several interactive water features were replaced to enhance the user experience. The splash pad was originally opened in 2012 and the upgrades were enjoyed by visitors of all ages
SHARON SPRINGS PARK IMPROVEMENTS
Due to increased demand for outdoor pickleball courts, one tennis court at Sharon Springs Park was converted to four pickleball courts during the renovations of the tennis complex. The addition of the four pickleball courts has allowed for additional programming at Sharon Springs Park including lessons and leagues.
S P E C I A L E V E N T S
GLOW PICKLEBALL
Over 60 participants took part in the Department’s first glow pickleball event over the coarse of 3 days in December. The indoor courts at Fowler Park Recreation Centers welcomed players ages 6 and over with specific times dedicated to family play, adult open matches, and adult 3.0+ skills.
TRICK OR TRAIL
On October 27, the trails at Old Atlanta Park were converted into a Halloween spectacular! Event participants were able to wined their way through the trail while filling their bags with treats and taking part in family fun activities.
GLOW NIGHT AT THE SPLASH PAD
The Old Atlanta Park Splash Pad reached full capacity on June 9 for an after hours event that lit up the park! Participants ranged from age 3 to 47 and all enjoyed splashing around in the glow of the night.
SPLASH BASH
As a kickoff for the summer season, Old Atlanta Park Splash Pad brought the entertainment outside on May 30, complete with an inflatable water slide and giveaways!
COFFEE & THE JUICE BOX
A new free monthly event was added to the lineup in 2023 as a way to provide community members a chance to network with other parents and caregivers, all while children were introduced to community partners such as the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office and Fire Departments, UGA Extension Office, and Parks & Recreation staff, as well as story time with the Forsyth County Public Library.
CHRISTMAS WITH SANTA
Santa never disappoints and arrived just in the nick of time to visit with 122 kids on December 9! Participants made their way through Santa’s workshop decorating cookies, bagging reindeer food for Christmas night, constructing ornaments, and hearing all about the tales of the holiday during story time with the Forsyth County Public Library.
A T H L E T I C P R O G R A M S
3,279
Adult Athletic Participants
20,036 Youth Athletic Participants
3,583 Volunteer Coaches & Program Assistants
C O M M U N I T Y R E C R E A T I O N
RECREATION CONTACTS
225 participants took part in 4 new camps offered in 2023
A D M I N I S T R A T I O
N &
M A R K E T I N G
MARKETING MEDIUMS
While trends and areas of interest are evolving daily, the need to provide relevant and beneficial resources to the community is a constant for Forsyth County Parks & Recreation. Marketing med and platforms used in 2023 include:
Billboard campaigns
Email newsletters to the current customer base
Social media posts on Facebook and Instagram
Flyers and activity guides
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Coffee & the Juice Box
Rec & Run 5k
Movies in the Park
Spring into Wellness
Park Cleanup
Parks & Play Day
Fall into Recreation
Aging Well Expo through Forsyth County Senior Services
Trade Talks and New Educator Orientation hosted by the Board of Education
Mock interviews held at the local high schools
Student government presentation organized by the Forsyth County Communications Department
TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT
A high priority is placed on staff development and involvement with professional and community organizations. Internal staff development trainings for 2023 were primarily focused on leadership development, with a few topics included that help create an understanding for day to day operations. The following opportunities were offered to department employees in 2023.
Procurement Department Procedure Training
Landscape Solutions
CivicRec Software Overview
Evaluating Summer Camps with the Youth
Program Quality Assessment
Human Leadership Supervisor Workshop (NCRPA)
Leading Peers
Leaders in Any Role
Georgia Recreation & Parks Association (GRPA)