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Alpharetta chooses playground over parking at Union Hill By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A decision about the future of Union Hill Park tasked Council members with deciding between protecting recreational green space or promoting the city’s ability to host events.
In the end they chose the parks. At their July 29 meeting, the Council approved a resolution to deny plans to build an additional parking lot and instead pursue an enhanced playground area at the park. The Council voted 5-1 with Councilman John Hipes dissenting. Councilman Fergal Brady was absent.
“Alpharetta will be known as the community that puts parks first,” Martine Zurinskas, an Alpharetta resident who addressed the Council during the public comment period, said after the vote. City staff had previously recommended building 49 additional parking spaces to the park’s existing 105 spots after funds
from a 2021 bond referendum became insufficient to cover rising costs of an original playground design. The park sits on the Big Creek Greenway. An existing agreement also provides an additional 73 spots at adjacent
See COUNCIL, Page 22
Roswell residents speak out on Masonic Lodge seizure By JAKE DRUKMAN newsroom@appenmedia.com ROSWELL, Ga. — The Roswell City Council is considering its options on whether to destroy, remodel or salvage the historic Masonic Lodge No. 165 building, which it acquired through eminent domain in April. Environmental and Public Works Director Brian Watson detailed the city’s options at the council’s July 29 special called meeting. He said that if the city did not want to demolish the building entirely, it could remodel the building into an open-air pavilion
for public use or salvage elements of the building’s architecture for use in another project. Watson said that a wholesale demolition would cost the city around $778,000, while the option to salvage pieces of the building would cost $1.6 million. He said a remodeling effort would cost more than $3.5 million, though that figure also includes the cost of installing a public restroom on the parcel. During an open public comment session held after the special
See OPTIONS, Page 22
Providing paradise for dogs
INSIDE THIS ISSUE COMMUNITY ►
SCHOOLS
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24-year-old Roswellian finishes 2,200-mile trek
OFF LEASH ALPHARETTA/PROVIDED
Cellphone policy to stay in place for 2024-2025
Off Leash Alpharetta co-founders Wendy Newman and Lonnie Cooper, center, cut the ribbon on their newest venture July 17 with members of the Alpharetta City Council, Mayor Jim Gilvin and K-9 units from the Police Department. Newman said her golden retriever Shiloh, pictured front center, is almost always hanging out at the dog park. See story, page 8.
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