Park features a canoe and kayak river launch and nature trails

Northwest Forsyth County is home to the county’s newest passive park, Eagle’s Beak Park, located at 8420 Old Federal Road in Ball Ground. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held for the new park August 7. The park’s construction was funded by the Parks, Recreation and Green Space Bond approved by Forsyth County voters in 2008 and by the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) VI program.

The new 226-acre park features a canoe and kayak launch on the Etowah River, nature trails, restroom facility and parking.

“We are very excited to add the new canoe and kayak launch at Eagle’s Beak Park to our offerings,” said Director of Parks & Recreation Jim Pryor. “We anticipate it will be a very popular amenity.”

The county purchased the bulk of the land for Eagle’s Beak Park in 2009 with funds from the Parks, Recreation and Green Space Bond.

District 4 Commissioner Cindy Jones Mills, in whose district the new park is located, shared her excitement about the new project.

“Back in 2008, Forsyth County voters saw the importance of and voted to approve the $100 million Parks, Recreation and Green Space Bond that provided the funding for the county to purchase this property,” said Jones Mills. “Thanks to that support of the Bond, this beautiful land is now preserved and is a place where families will come to make memories to last a lifetime.”

“I'm so proud to have served on both the Parks & Recreation Board and on the Bond Committee that worked toward the passage of the Bond,” continued Jones Mills. “It was the intent and hope of the Bond Committee that the county would use the money to buy land that would preserve not only the county's beauty and its natural resources, but also its history. With this land, the county has been able to achieve that goal completely – the history of the Native Americans and the Etowah River make this one of the most pristine and unique parks our county has to offer. With projects like this new park, the lasting impact the Bond is having on our community is clear.”

Design of the park was completed by Amec Foster Wheeler. Construction of the park was awarded to Tri Scapes, Inc. in the amount of $1,367,460.

For more information, visit www.forsythco.com/parks.