Harry Johnston

More Details on Newest Cherokee Parks

BY HARRY JOHNSTON

The Cherokee County Recreation and Parks program, already rated the best of all large counties in Georgia, continues to move forward.

The Board of Commissioners received a report at the May 3 meeting from the public conceptual input process for three future parks in northeast Cherokee — Long Swamp Creek Recreation Area, Yellow Creek Road and E.W. and Edith Cochran Park. We also approved a contract for Phase 1 construction of the new park in southwest Cherokee.

The southwest park site is on Highway 92, near Hunt Road. The county bought the property more than 10 years ago using park bond funds. It’s adjacent to a site proposed for development as a shopping, dining and entertainment center. Based on public input during an earlier conceptual design process, Phase 1 of the park will include parking, a playground, an open-events and free-play area, a pavilion and a walking trail. We hope to start construction late this year.

The first of the three parks in northeast Cherokee expected to be developed is a 24-acre tract where Long Swamp Creek enters the Etowah River, near Highway 372 in Ball Ground. It’s believed to have been the site of an Indian mound; a visitors center there will pay tribute to that Native American heritage. The park will include a canoe/kayak launch, an open meadow and pollinator garden, and an archery range. This will be a relatively low-cost park. Detailed design is expected next year, with construction in 2024.

The second site is the 538-acre Yellow Creek Road conservation area, also on the Etowah River. Most of the site will be split

Southwest park parcels 1 and 2. Photo courtesy of Cherokee County Recreation and Parks.

between mountain bike trails on the lower and steeper part of the property, and equestrian and hiking trails on the less-steep upper section. The plan calls for 10 miles of each type of trail, with no overlapping of the two. There will be a horse corral adjacent to the parking area, for riders who want to camp in their trailers overnight, and a second corral with a campsite at the far end of the trail, for those who want to ride or hike in. In addition, there will be a river walk trail and river access for canoes and kayaks. The current plan is to begin construction in 2027, but the commissioners have expressed interest in accelerating that schedule to allow volunteer trailbuilding efforts to begin.

The third northeast property will become Cochran Park. It’s a 102-acre site adjacent to the site of the planned new Free Home Elementary School, which will be just behind the current facility. This park will include an 18-hole disc golf course, an open-events and free-play area, a pond, a dog park, a cross-country running course, walking trails and paved bicycle trails. The open green will be big enough that it can be converted into one or more ball fields, if and when there’s demand for them. As the most expensive of the three northeast parks to build, this one probably won’t start construction until 2027.

We already have the best parks and recreation facilities in the state of Georgia, and, with the addition of these new parks, we will have even more available for the enjoyment of the residents of Cherokee County.

As always, I’m interested in your thoughts on these and other subjects. Please email me at hjohnston@cherokee.com.

Harry Johnston is chairman of the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners. He's a retired CPA and accounting manager, and a former district commissioner.

Cherokee County

Cherokee County Parks

Countless Ways to Get Out and Play

If you can’t get out of town this summer, don’t worry! You can get out of the house and enjoy all of the amenities offered by Cherokee Recreation and Parks. Check out the “coming soon” section on Page 16 for more details on parks and recreation facilities in the works, and flip to Page 12 for Harry Johnston’s most recent Cherokee Recreation and Parks update.

Badger Creek Park The park includes 14 soccer fields of various sizes and restrooms. It is home to Cherokee Impact (www.csaimpact.com).

Barnett Park The 25-acre park includes baseball/ softball diamonds, a playground, picnic areas, restrooms and walking trails along Downing Creek.

Blankets Creek Bike Trails Among the most popular mountain bike trails in the U.S., the 15 miles of volunteer-maintained trails are for beginners to advanced riders. Amenities at the trailhead include parking, pavilions and restrooms. Developed by a partnership between Cherokee County, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Allatoona Lake) and SORBA Woodstock.

Cherokee County Aquatic Center The state-of-the-art, full-service aquatics facility, with two indoor pools and one outdoor pool, offers instructional, fitness, therapeutic, competitive and recreational swimming opportunities. The Oasis, the outdoor leisure pool, includes a water playground, two waterslides, play features, beach entry, pavilions, locker rooms and more. Cherokee Mills Park Located near Little River, this park offers access to Allatoona Lake with three boat ramps and a boat dock. A day-use fee applies for the boat ramp ($5), or you can purchase a season pass at the recreation center in Woodstock.

Cherokee Veterans Park Located on 149 acres in northeast Cherokee County, this is one of the largest parks in the county’s park system. Amenities include athletic fields, tennis courts, pickleball courts, a playground, skate park, walking trails, a large open meadow and restrooms.

Cline Park This 12-acre park includes tennis courts, a wooded walking trail, playground and a seasonal splash pad.

Dwight Terry Park A 30-acre park with baseball/softball diamonds, a playground, restrooms and a paved walking track. It is home to the Dwight Terry Baseball youth baseball program.

Field’s Landing Park Situated on the north side of Allatoona Lake, this park has spectacular views of the lake, along with a boat ramp, fishing dock, playground, restrooms and several picnic areas and pavilions. A day-use fee applies for the boat ramp ($5), or you can purchase a season pass at the recreation center in Woodstock.

Garland Mountain Horse and Hiking Trails The 19.7 miles of horse and hiking trails wind their way through 940plus wooded acres in northwest Cherokee County. The trailhead has trailer parking, a pavilion, restrooms and more. Hickory Trails Park Located in Hickory Flat, the park, on 24 pastoral and wooded acres, offers a walking trail. The trailhead is served by a gravel parking lot, two pavilions and restrooms.

Hobgood Park This 60-acre park remains one of the most active and heavily used parks in Cherokee County. In addition to youth baseball and adult softball leagues, it hosts multiple softball/baseball tournaments every year. The walking track, playground and pavilions also are heavily used. To reserve a pavilion, call 770-924-7768. For information about tennis programs or to reserve a court, visit www.cherokeetenniscenter.com.

JJ Biello Park Spread across 470 acres along Rubes Creek and Little River, the park includes tennis, youth softball, youth football, soccer and lacrosse, as well as a large pavilion and playground.

Kenney Askew Memorial Park One of the oldest parks in the Cherokee County system, Kenney Askew Park was expanded to include the Richard Mauldin Sports Complex. Five new fields opened in fall 2015, and are home to Canton Baseball.

Lewis Park Nestled in 57 acres of wooded land south of Allatoona Lake, this park has walking trails that wind along an unnamed tributary of the Little River, a playground, pavilions and restrooms. Turn to Page 50 to read more about Lewis Park and learn where Bells Ferry Road got its name.

Patriots Park The 33-acre park includes two natural grass baseball/softball diamonds, two fenced off-leash dog areas, a fully accessible and inclusive playground, a paved walking path, a large open meadow, picnic pavilion, restrooms and an artificial turf adaptive-use baseball/softball diamond. Dubbed Freedom Field, the adaptive-use field is designed for the inclusive use of athletes of all abilities.

Recreation Center Offices and most of the indoor programming offered are located here. Amenities include a gymnasium, community room, aerobics room, stage, playground, outdoor in-line hockey rink and restrooms.

Riverchase Park Riverchase is a small neighborhood park in southeast Cherokee. It includes a playground and pavilion that is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Sequoyah Park Sequoyah Park offers an athletic field, baseball/softball diamonds, playground, pavilion, restrooms, walking trail and disc golf.

Union Hill Community Center Located in Union Hill, this historic building has been a school and a church, and now serves as a community center with a banquet hall, warming kitchen, playground and restrooms. Available for weddings and parties; call 770-924-7768 for reservations.

Waleska Park Across the street from Reinhardt University, the park has three youth baseball/softball diamonds and a playground.

Weatherby Park Located in Clayton, the park has an athletic field, three baseball/softball diamonds and a pavilion, all available for rent. Also available is a playground, restrooms and a walking track.

The Cherokee County UGA Extension’s Backyard Agricultural Education Station at Cherokee Veterans Park is adjacent to park maintenance buildings. The station includes 10 corrugated metal raised plant beds, fencing, an irrigation system and a tool shed. It will serve as an outdoor learning space where visitors can attend classes and learn horticultural techniques from extension agents and trained volunteers. For information on classes, visit cherokeemastergardeners.com.

Coming Soon!

Towne Lake Multiuse Trail

The first of four phases to install an 8-foot multiuse trail on Towne Lake Parkway from Towne Lake Hills South to Bells Ferry Road was estimated to be completed by May 30. The first phase extends from Towne Lake Hills South to Towne Lake Hills West.

SW Cherokee Parks and Trails Plan

This plan was adopted to add three new parks in southwest Cherokee, along with several miles of trails. The parks will include other features, such as playgrounds, athletic fields, and unique components like a dog park, splash pad, canopy walk, event lawn and recreation center. https://tsw.mysocialpinpoint.com/sw-cc-parks-trails-plan.

NE Cherokee County Parks Plan

Encompassing several recently-acquired parcels, this plan includes Cochran Park, which has 102 acres of potential active and passive recreational opportunities. Additionally, a tract at Long Swamp Creek is rich in Native American history, and a 538-acre parcel on Yellow Creek Road will be dedicated to hiking, biking, horseback riding, canoeing/ kayaking and more. https://tsw.mysocialpinpoint.com/ne-cc-parks-plan.

Hickory Flat Gym

4835 Hickory Road, Canton. The Hickory Flat Elementary Gym was built in 1950 with volunteers and an on-site sawmill. While the interior will keep its unique look, the utilities and exterior will get a new facelift, but with some historic charm. The recreation and community center renovation project is estimated to be completed this month.

The Buzz

Construction is underway for The LB “Buzz” Ahrens Recreation Center, estimated to be completed in late 2022 or January 2023. It will be a 33,000-square-foot facility with two basketball courts, a cardio/fitness area, multiple classrooms, a dance studio, a large banquet hall with a catering kitchen and a rock-climbing wall in the main atrium.