A ribbon cutting ceremony for renovations at Sawnee Mountain Preserve (4075 Spot Road) will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 12, to highlight improvements made to the park.

The renovations include:

• 50 additional parking spaces
• Improved exhibits inside the Visitor Center
• Additional pavilions and maintenance storage building
• Interpretive signage along trails with new trail maps
• Walkway to the Big Creek Greenway
• Landscape improvements
• Visitor Center building exterior improvements, including a weather-proof roof for the porch
• Climbing storage building improvements

“Sawnee Mountain Preserve has always been a favorite park of Forsyth County citizens, as well as a popular tourist destination,” said Director of Forsyth County Parks & Recreation Kirk Franz. “These new improvements have enhanced this beautiful facility, and we are pleased to continue to provide the highest level of service to those who visit our parks.”

The additions and updates are part of the Sawnee Mountain Preserve’s master plan as Phase 4A.

The designer for the project was CPL, and the general contractor was Vertical Earth. The designer for the interior exhibits and trail interpretive signs project was HW Exhibits, and the exhibit fabricator was Taylor Studios. The budget for both projects was approximately $3 million and was funded by SPLOST, Impact Fees, Sawnee Mountain Foundation Donation, Capital Site Improvements and the Parks, Recreation and Green Space Bond approved by voters in 2008.

Sawnee Mountain Preserve offers 11 miles of trails, a Visitor Center, playground, climbing tower, access to the Big Creek Greenway and many outdoor adventure and environmental education programs. The park attracts over 100,000 visitors each year.