Alpharetta, Georgia – Reflecting the principles of the community, the Alpharetta City Council decided to give recreational green space top priority over more parking, therefore expanding the playground area at Union Hill Park instead of raising the parking capacity. Approved at the July 29 Council meeting with a vote of 5-1, the resolution stopped plans for 49 additional parking spaces, so augmenting the already available 105 spots in the park.
Councilman John Hipes was the lone dissenting voice, while Councilman Fergal Brady was absent from the meeting. “Alpharetta will be known as the community that puts parks first,” stated Martine Zurinskas, an Alpharetta resident, following the vote, Appen Media reported.
The first suggestion for more parking came when money from a bond referendum for 2021 fell short because of growing expenses related to the original playground construction. The park, which runs along to the Big Creek Greenway, already gains from extra 73 parking spaces at nearby homes set aside for particular events.
Often referred to as a “music city,” Union Hill Park—known for its covered event area capable of 500 attendees—has positioned itself as a prominent location in Alpharetta. The park has hosted a number of noteworthy events this year, including several Home By Dark concerts, Shamrockin’ for a Cure, and Atlanta Magazine’s Grill Fest. Later this summer further events including the Home By Dark Union Hill Park Summer Concert Series, iCan Bike Camp, and Camp Momentum are scheduled to take place.
A major topic of debate was whether to improve event capabilities or enlarge the playground. Council members on July 16 asked the city staff to investigate whether remaining bond money might support a scaled-back version of the playground project, which Director of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Services, Morgan Rodgers, confirmed was feasible on July 30.
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Councilman Hipes voiced worries about selecting more playground facilities instead of enhancing the park’s capacity as a special event location.
“This is not parking lot versus playground,” Hipes said. “This is playground versus an event facility.”
Councilman Donald Mitchell, on the other hand, argued for the preservation of green areas citing growing land prices and the irrevocality of such projects. Another resident, Karla Piedrahita, agreed with him by applauding the choice to give playground improvements top priority.
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Aiming to serve the larger community by maintaining and improving easily accessible green places, the decision represents a major commitment by the Alpharetta City Council to give long-term recreational spaces top priority over temporary event facilitation.
Read the detailed report on Appen Media.
