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Matt Community Park now open
Officials hold ribbon-cutting ceremony
1PRINT MATT ribbon cut web
Officials cut the ribbon opening Matt Community Park. - photo by Jim Dean Forsyth County News

It’s a certainty that some games played at the county’s newest park will be canceled due to rain, but its opening ceremony was not.

On Friday, Forsyth County officials battled some rainy weather to complete a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Matt Community Park at Settingdown Creek in northwest Forsyth, meaning the park is now open to the public.

“Parks and recreation is a very important quality of life venue for the citizens of Forsyth County,” said Parks Director Jim Pryor.

The park includes four rectangular synthetic-turf fields, a pavilion, a playground and concession and restroom buildings and sits on about 180 acres. A mile-long walking trail is expected to open in the park next spring.

“We’ll be playing soccer, lacrosse and some football,” said Tommy Bruce, deputy director of county parks.

Other Speakers at the event included: Principal Charlley Stalder of Matt Elementary School; Principal Cheryl Riddle of Liberty Middle School; and Commissioners Pete Amos and Cindy Jones Mills of Districts 1 and 4, respectively.

Students from nearby schools also took part in the ceremony as Liberty Middle School’s chorus performed the national anthem and “America the Beautiful” and members of North Forsyth High School’s Marine Corps JROTC program presented the colors at the start of the ceremony.

Students at Matt Elementary School read speeches they had written on why they were excited for the new park.

“I always want the kids to be a part of a day like today, because it is for the kids,” Mills, who represents the area, said.

Land for the park was purchased through the parks, recreation and greenspace bond approved by voters in 2008, and construction was funded through the bond and impact fees.

Ground was broken on the park in 2015.

Future additions to the park could include tennis courts, an amphitheater and more fields and trails. A library and senior center are also in future plans to the area.

The park is located at 6555 Wallace Tatum Road and shares an entrance with Forsyth County Fire Station 3.

More information can be found forsythco.com/parks.