The Coweta County Commissioners endorsed a plan in 2000 to turn the Brown’s Mill Battlefield site into a park, and the state of Georgia had previously purchased the land along the Chattahoochee River that would become Chattahoochee Bend State Park. But Cowetans had to wait many years to finally enjoy those parks. Thanks to proactive action by Coweta County and county residents and groups, a development plan for the park was created by consultants paid for by Coweta County. Once that was done, Coweta’s legislative delegation was able to get funding for the project included in the state budget. A groundbreaking for the park was held in September of 2009. The park finally opened to the public nearly two years later. The county commission endorsed a plan to turn the Brown’s Mill Battlefield site into a park in early 2000, though the park did not open until 2013. A $3 million plan was approved in 2004. Work on a significantly scaled-back plan was delayed by the commissioners in 2009 over budget concerns. The city of Newnan developed the Greenville Street and First Avenue parks, and Senoia purchased the land that would become Marimac Lakes Park. A new library was built on the county’s east side, and plans neared completion for new libraries in Senoia and Grantville. In 2000, Newnan Hospital announced plans for a new $48 million facility, on the grounds of the historic hospital on Jackson Street. Emory Peachtree Regional Hospital, the former Coweta General Hospital on Hospital Road, also announced expansion plans. In 2002, each received a “certificate of need” from the state, and Peachtree Regional purchased land on Bullsboro Drive for the new hospital. The CEO of Emory Peachtree Regional proposed the mutual withdrawal of both CONs. A few months later, Newnan Hospital agreed to buy Peachtree Regional. For a while, there were two Newnan Hospitals: East and West. In November of 2003, all emergency services moved to Hospital Road. The old hospital didn’t close completely, with some services, including outpatient surgery and the sleep center, remaining at the Jackson Street location. In 2005, a local task force formed, with hopes to open a new regional hospital. Around the same time, Newnan Hospital’s board of directors started talking to Piedmont Hospital about a possible merger. Piedmont presented Newnan Hospital with a plan to assume $40 million in Newnan Hospital’s
162 | 2015
anniversary edition
Top: Coweta County spent years planning and building the Coweta County Justice Center, which opened to the public in 2006. Middle: Liberty Glenn hugs her dad, Wesley, during a picnic held before his company of Georgia Army National Guard soldiers deployed to Afghanistan in 2009. Bottom: Georgia State Rep. Lynn Smith and State Sen. Mitch Seabaugh, help build a ceremonial trail at the groundbreaking for Chattahoochee Bend State Park in 2009.