Gwinnett County’s 2013 Parks and Recreation Capital Improvements Plan pointed out a need for a large open space park in western Gwinnett County. Funded by SPLOST, the Simpsonwood acquisition provides an opportunity to preserve green space and provide passive recreational opportunities for residents of Gwinnett.
Commission Chairman Charlotte Nash said, “The acquisition of Simpsonwood is a significant addition to our already nationally recognized countywide parks system. I am especially excited to preserve a large corridor of property along the Chattahoochee River and look forward to the development of future park plans with the help of the Gwinnett County Recreation Authority and County residents.”
The Simpsonwood property is predominantly forested with hardwood and evergreen trees with approximately 2,140 linear feet of river frontage along the Chattahoochee River.
District 2 Commissioner Lynette Howard said, “I am so thankful that the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church agreed to sell this special place to Gwinnett County. We plan to continue to abide by Miss Ludie Mae Simpson’s wishes by protecting and preserving this land and its natural resources as a Gwinnett County park. It is a great place for Gwinnett residents to learn about and connect with the great outdoors.”
A timeline has not yet been established for planned improvements to the park property. The first step in the process is to develop a park master plan, which is anticipated to begin within the year.
Gwinnett County’s parks and historic sites received national recognition last year as a finalist for the National Recreation and Park Association’s Gold Medal award. Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation won the national award for best parks in 2008.
