Park advocates celebrated the decision by the Cobb County Board of Commissioners to fund the expansion of East Cobb Park. In a 3-0 vote Tuesday evening, the BOC approved the use of the remaining available money from the 2017 Supplemental Parks Bond fund to purchase additional property currently owned by Wylene Tritt.  The purchase of just under 30 acres will be supplemented by $102,000 from the Friends for East Cobb Park.

Two commissioners were absent, JoAnn Birrell because of a family commitment, and Lisa Cupid due to illness.

>>Read the proposed contract for the purchase here.

Park advocates celebrate

Cynthia Patterson thanks BOC for approving the purchase of Tritt property (photo by Larry Felton Johnson)

During the public comment section of the meeting, Cynthia Patterson of the Cobb Parks Coalition said, “Tonight we celebrate expanding Cobb’s greenspace legacy. Last week negotiations to acquire 29.7 acres of the Tritt property were made public. Joint funding for the purchase is provided by $8.3 million remaining in park bond 2008,  a generous gift of $102,000 from the Friends for the East Cobb Park, and Ms. Tritt’s significant gracious donation of land.  This acquisition adds to the greenspace preserved with Park Bond 2008 funds: pines, forests, streams, grasslands, in West Cobb, Marietta, Mableton, Austell, and Acworth.  Our thanks to the Board of Commissioners, Cobb County staff, property owners who sold their land to the county, citizens of Cobb County, and community groups who have worked for years to protect greenspace.  Thank you!”

When the vote was taken, and the purchase was approved 3-0, park advocates held up “Thank You” signs.

Location of the park

Park and preservation advocate Roberta Cook with her “begging cup” (photo by Larry Felton Johnson)

East Cobb Park is at 3322 Roswell Road, Marietta 30068.  The additional land will expand the park to the east of the existing park and an easement will link the park to Roswell Road. The newly added property will be kept in its current state for the time being.

The parks bond

In 2008 the Board of Commissioners had approved a resolution for $40 million in bonds, and the voters approved it in a referendum by a large margin, but the county put the plan on hold in the face of the recession and the drop in property values in 2009-2010.

In January of 2017, the BOC voted to proceed with the remainder of the bond schedule and acquire land for parks.