COMMUNITY GARDEN PART OF SUWANEE’S PLANS FOR ADDITIONAL OPEN SPACE ENHANCEMENTS

The City of Suwanee is planning additional improvements and programming through its award-winning open space initiative. The City will undertake enhancements at PlayTown Suwanee later this year, including the addition of a trail on an adjoining, recently purchased property. The City also has begun planning for a community garden at the Williams Farm property on Buford Highway.

“Our goal is to have the garden ready for the community to plant in the spring of 2010,” says Jessica Roth, assistant to the city manager. “Establishing a community garden in our historic Old Town area is a nice way to pay homage to the property and to our history. Suwanee was for many years a small, agricultural community.”

The nearly 7-acre Williams Farm property, purchased in 2003, is among more than 300 acres of open space the City of Suwanee has acquired through its open space program since 2002.

The City issued a request for qualifications last week for landscape architect services to design and prepare the infrastructure for the garden, which also will serve as a passive park. Work will include constructing garden plots of various sizes, rehabilitating the existing barn, and adding pathways and other park elements.

The City has allocated $225,000 in remaining open space funds for design and construction of the garden.

In March, Suwanee used $102,000 in open space funds to purchase a 5.5-acre property located on Stonecypher Road near the intersection with Eva Kennedy.

A trail will be built on this property as part of upcoming enhancements at PlayTown Suwanee, the community-built playground on Main Street. In addition, a picnic pavilion will be constructed at the playground. The additions are expected to be completed next spring. The anticipated cost of about $315,000 will be covered through open space and 2005 SPLOST funds.

Suwanee has received several awards for its open space program through which the community has built four new parks and added three miles to its Suwanee Creek Greenway. Citizens approved $17.7 million in open space bond funds in November 2001.

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