Simpsonwood Park Master Plan Unveiled

PEACHTREE CORNERS, GA -- Gwinnett County's parks and recreation department has released its most recent master plan for the $7 million development of Simpsonwood Park.

Located on 227 acres of land that borders the Chattahoochee River in Peachtree Corners, the park was purchased by the county in 2014 and will be managed and operated by the parks and recreation department.

Peachtree Corners on Monday shared an update provided by city council member Lorri Christopher, who is on the Simpsonwood Park steering committee.

The most recent master plan, approved by the committee, includes a nature play space and two scenic overlooks.

A request for a conservation easement on the property also was approved by the committee, along with Georgia Department of Transportation safety plans for entering and exiting the park.

Public vehicle access within the park will be limited and the latest plan reduces impervious surfaces 5 percent from previous plans, Christopher said.

Features approved by the committee as part of the $7.1 million master plan include entrance drives, water fountains, bike racks, a camping area, a chapel/events area, a meadowland area, a trail system, a playground and a pavilion.

Improvements will be paid for with money from Gwinnett's special-purpose, local option sales tax.

The tract of land had been deeded as a gift to the United Methodist Church by Ms. Ludie Simpson in the early 1970s. The church had built a conference and retreat center on a portion of the property but in the last few years decided to look into selling the property when the conference center began to lose money.

For details, take a look at the Simpsonwood Preliminary Master Plan online.

A public forum on plans for the park is scheduled for Thursday, June 30, from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

It will be held at the Simpsonwood United Methodist Church gymnasium and the public will be able to ask questions and provide input.

The final master plan will be presented to the committee on August 4.

For questions, contact the Gwinnett Parks and Recreation Department at 770-822-8840.