Suwanee To Build Organic Community Garden

The Suwanee City Council approved $400,000 for construction of a 7-acre park on property along Buford Highway in the city’s historic district that is part of more than 300 acres the city has acquired through its open space program.  The park will feature the Harvest Farm Community Garden comprised of 60-100 plots for rent.

Plot applications will be available beginning Tuesday at http://www.suwanee.com/. Planting will start in spring 2010.

Roswell Restricts Smoking In Parks

Roswell City Council passed an ordinance restricting smoking in its public parks to designated areas, but did not delineate the smoking areas.  Instead, the Council charged its Recreation Commission to map out recommended smoking areas for the full Council to approve.

Cobb County Quiet On Eyed Park Locations

Cobb County is eyeing 277 properties to purchase for parks, but will not release the locations of the potential parks.  A 15-member committee appointed by the County Commission will meet behind closed doors to evaluate the properties and make recommendations.  The County says the secrecy is necessary to keep land speculators from driving up the prices. 

Critics, however, don’t buy the county’s argument now, particularly amid a recession that is socking property values. They say publicizing the locations of the properties could encourage owners to make their prices more competitive.

“I’m not sure if I really understand all of the secrecy around this,” said Jeff Wood, who serves on the 15-member committee county commissioners appointed to evaluate the properties. “I just happen to think that it is may be a little bit shortsighted because there is so much competition for the $40 million.”

Cobb County Commission Chair and candidate for Attorney General Sam Olens first deferred to the County Attorney about the secrecy, but then added:

Olens, however, said he would direct the county to disclose the locations of the properties the committee ultimately recommends, as he did after the 2006 parks bond issue. County commissioners, Olens added, will vote on purchasing the parkland in public after giving residents an opportunity to comment.