SNELLVILLE – City and project officials were joined by residents from the neighborhoods surrounding the new Oak Road Park for a ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday.
The property spreads over 4.67 acres. It has a heavily wooded area on back side of the property with an active stream along the rear property line.
Due to grant limitations, the space was only to be developed as a passive park which by definition means no organized activities, limited lighting, no paved parking and the property must stay as natural as possible.
The land for Oak Road Park was purchased in May of 2003 with Governor's Greenspace Funds, a program created by former Gov. Roy Barnes through the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
Cities and counties were allowed to apply for funding to preserve green space. Snellville Parks and Recreation applied for funds and was approved. Monies were received to purchase property with the intent of developing a passive neighborhood park.
The park was built in two phases:
Phase I - December 2013 - removed trees in preparing for open space at front of property and began process of spraying to remove non-native plant species. It took more than a year-and-a-half to get vegetation under control.
Phase II - August 2016 - revised design plans were accepted from Goodwin/Mills/Cawood. November 2016 - construction bid awarded to Zaveri Enterprises, Inc and work began in February of 2017.
City officials would like to thank the following for their help in opening the park:
Oak Road Park Neighbors
City of Snellville Mayor/Council
Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners
Snellville Parks & Recreation Advisory Board
Snellville Planning Department
Zaveri Enterprises, Inc.
Goodwyn/Mills/Cawood
