Originally produced as a 2022 Georgia Downtown Renaissance Fellowship report, this document was updated and reprinted in 2024 to assist city leaders with design concepts for a recently acquired parcel of land adjacent to Cornelia’s historic depot. Local leaders envision this nearly two-acre area as a prime location for a signature community event space capable of accommodating regular programming like the Big Red Apple Festival. After touring the site with local leaders and community members, design professionals at the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government worked with city officials to create plans and renderings illustrating this exciting new park and event space. The vision included in the final section of this document includes concepts for a central community event venue, expanded multiuse trails, and an accessible playground in this prime downtown location. This collaborative effort aims to further ongoing efforts to make Cornelia one of North Georgia’s most vibrant downtowns.
