Oct. 1 Kennesaw Council Preview

Should Swift-Cantrell Park's master plan be revised?

That topic is on the agenda of tonight's Kennesaw City Council meeting, which starts at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.

Councilman Jeff Duckett wants staff to come up with a way to gauge residents' views of the current plan, which is more than six years old.

"Maybe opinions have changed or maybe opinions haven't changed," he said during Wednesday's work session. "I just want ... some kind of study, maybe multiple studies, to figure out what is desired of the public now and if it needs to be changed or if it needs to be tweaked."

Duckett's request comes as the city prepares to solicit Requests for Proposals for exercise equipment that will be installed along the outer trail of the park. The equipment will be paid for through as well as funds raised by the Swift-Cantrell Park Foundation.

"We've got development going on and people wanting to bring this here and do this and do that," he said. "... We need to decide ... the true plan."

Duckett also has been in talks with a group interested in putting an aquatic center at the park. He told the council Wednesday that he was under the impression that all the city had to do was donate the land for the center. But when the city told the group that it preferred a building instead of an inflatable roof to house an Olympic-sized swimming pool, the group said Kennesaw would have to come up with $3 million.

"I think I told him three times that we didn't have $3 million and we're having trouble finding half a million right now," he said. "I'm at the point that we just let it go and forget about it."

Parks and Recreation Director Doug Taylor, the Swift-Cantrell Park Foundation, the Recreation and Culture Commission, the Kennesaw Citizens Advisory Committee and staff from the city manager's office will brainstorm ideas to solicit public input on the park's current master plan. Their final recommendation will be presented to council for approval at a later date.

Open the PDFs under the photo to peruse the complete agenda and the Swift-Cantrell Park master plan. Click here if you cannot view the agenda for tonight's council meeting. 

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