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Countys full steam ahead on Fowler site
Park could be ready by 2011
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Forsyth County News
Forsyth County officials plan to break ground next week on an 80-acre park in south Forsyth that could house ball fields, tennis courts, walking trails, a track and skate park.

“Once the groundbreaking’s done, it’s full steam ahead,” said Tommy Bruce, assistant director of parks and recreation.

Bruce said the park at Hwy. 9 and Castleberry Road could be finished by spring 2011.

The park will be built by Hardin Construction, whose $12 million bid county commissioners approved by a 5-0 vote on June 9.

The project will be funded through the parks and recreation bond, as well as $1 million from impact fees, or money collected through building permits.

Plans for the park include a baseball and softball complex, as well as soccer fields and tennis courts.

Also included are multipurpose courts, sand volleyball courts, playgrounds, walking/jogging trails and a recreation center.

Funding for construction of the recreation center will be part of a separate contract, when approved.

The board moved forward with plans to fund a recreation center at Fowler on July 2 in a 3-2 vote. Commissioners Jim Boff and Jim Harrell opposed the measure.

Charles Laughing-house, who chairs the commission, cast the swing vote on the matter, which specified funding sources for the Fowler center, as well as a separate facility on the Buice property, at Nichols and Old Atlanta roads.

According to Chief Financial Officer Bill Thomas, the $6.5 million center could be funded with money from the $100 million parks and recreation bond and parks and recreation impact fees.

E-mail Frank Reddy at frankreddy@forsythnews.com.