The Sandy Springs City Council approved a nearly $4 million contract with Eastern Builders to construct a new park on Old Riverside Drive along the Chattahoochee River, adding to the city’s 28 parks and 950 acres of green space.
Old Riverside Park is located north of the Riverside Swim and Tennis Club and the intersection of Old Riverside and Riverside drives. City officials expect construction to wrap up before the end of the year.
The 23-acre park’s master plan includes public access to the Chattahoochee River, a playground, green infrastructure, nature trails, and a restroom facility, while leaving a majority of the site’s natural features untouched. While the map shows Nancy Creek running through the site, records show the tributary is unnamed.
Sandy Springs celebrates contract
The new park has been in the works since at least 2012, when the city first asked residents neighboring the site what they thought about converting an old Fulton County pump station into a public park. More than a decade later, the site is shovel-ready.
Originally, the city earmarked $2.5 million from its operating fund for the park’s construction. Walker said most of that funding is no longer needed with additional revenue from impact fees on new development. About $2.2 million is now in the city’s capital contingency fund for future allocation.
“[The contractor] said they can mobilize about 10 days after our notice to proceed, which is pretty quick,” Walker said. “Our anticipation is that the project will be completed in this calendar year … our goal is to have it done.”
Recreation and Parks Director Brent Walker said the approved contract does not include the nature trails slated for the park. The project’s full $6.2 million budget includes $700,000 in existing expenses, $500,000 for a trail loop, and a $1 million contingency.
Council Member Andrew Chinsky said residents in the northwest corner of District 6 have reached out to him about volunteer opportunities during and after the park’s construction.
“I will be counting down the dates to the ribbon cutting,” Chinsky said. “It is very rare that we get to construct a full-fledged park like this, given how built out Sandy Springs is. So kudos to your team, really looking forward to it.”
Walker said there will be opportunities for residents to volunteer at the park through the city’s Eco-Stewardship program, but the site is closed to the public during construction.
“The construction company has to control the site and make sure no one’s on there getting hurt,” he said. “Stay away during construction.”
Patiently awaiting park
Chinsky also thanked the prior council and elected officials for their work on the project, shouting out the inaugural District 6 Council Member Karen Meinzen McEnerny.
Council Member Melissa Mular said her residents across Riverside Drive in District 3 are also looking forward to the new neighborhood park, situated in west-central Sandy Springs.
While the city is home to hundreds of acres of natural beauty and 28 developed parks, not every resident has convenient access to them. For neighborhoods in west-central Sandy Springs, the new park means they’re just a few minutes away.
After the city council approved a concept plan in December 2022, construction was originally expected to begin late last year.
Sandy Springs officials say that Arlington Memorial Park, a 122-acre cemetery off Mount Vernon Highway near City Springs, is included in the city’s 950 acres of green space. Significant acreage in north Sandy Springs along the Chattahoochee River is under the National Park Service.
For several years, city planning documents have prioritized acquiring land for public green spaces, while constructing sidewalks and paths to connect residents to public parks.
Mayor Rusty Paul said the city has been sitting on the build-out of Old Riverside Park for a while.
“It’s got some beautiful views of the river, great river access, trails, and everything else,” Paul said. “I think it’s going to be one of those jewels that we come to appreciate.”
In other business
- The city council approved a roughly $974,000 contract for a 4,000-foot-long sidewalk connecting Mount Paran Road to Powers Ferry Road from Rebel Trail to Carol Lane.
- The Sandy Springs Police Department received $15,898 through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program for equipment replacements, storage, and technology.
- Elected officials approved a 200-day contract extension on the sidewalk construction project along Roswell Road just south of I-285 because of Georgia Power’s utility relocation delays.
