MILTON, Ga., June 2, 2015 - The City of Milton purchased Providence Park today for $4,200 from the Fulton County Board of Commissioners.
Thanks to the great assistance of Fulton County Commissioners Bob Ellis and Liz Hausmann, Fulton County Chairman John Eaves and the entire Fulton County Board of Commissioners, Providence Park will be invaluable as part of Milton's ever-expanding stable of parks, greenspace and event facilities.
The park, closed since 2004, was owned by Fulton County since before the city's formation in December 2006. The 42-acre site includes a lodge, hiking trails, a rock-climbing cliff and a lake. Crews have cleaned it for the last 11 years after testing turned up contaminants in the ground water and soils.
The Georgia Environmental Protection Division now deems the clean-up complete, and Milton is more than happy to take possession of the passive-use park and return it to use for residents, said Mayor Joe Lockwood.
"We're really very excited the City of Milton and Fulton County could come to terms everyone found agreeable for this beautiful park," he said. "We look forward to using its rugged terrain and natural beauty for a host of events and programs as soon as this fall."
Jim Cregge, the city's parks and recreation director, said Milton has long contemplated the work needed to bring Providence Park back to a functional state. Staff is already working on renovation plans to ensure residents can enjoy Providence Park in the near future.
"The City of Milton has been underserved from a park standpoint and the addition of Providence Park will be a welcomed asset," said Fulton County Commissioner Bob Ellis, an integral part of the park officially becoming a part of Milton. "The citizens of Milton will be pleased that there is a resolution to this issue after so many years."
For more information on all of Milton's programs and facilities, please visit the city's Online Activity Guide.