Georgia County Battles Breakaway City Over Parkland

The Fulton County commission's decision to sell park land in one of the Southeast's wealthiest counties could set a precedent that would have far-reaching consequences for other government entities looking for solutions to a financial crisis.

1 minute read

June 24, 2006, 7:00 AM PDT

By David Gest

"In the latest salvo in the battle between Fulton County and the breakaway city of Sandy Springs, the County Commission voted Wednesday to sell six parks in the new city on the open market.

Commissioners said Sandy Springs was welcome to compete with other would-be buyers for the land, valued by the county at $27.6 million.

Although there were immediate questions about how â€" or whether â€" the land could be sold for development, the vote created at least a possibility that Sandy Springs could lose precious parkland.

'It's tragic,' said Matt Post, a Sandy Springs native who played in Hammond Park as a child. 'They are penalizing Sandy Springs for its own incorporation. Not only will the place I love and cherish be destroyed, but it won't be a place I can share with my daughters.'

The 14-acre Hammond Park, located on Glenridge Drive, is one of six parks totaling 47 acres. The sites could be transformed into anything from public green space to high-rise office towers."

Thanks to Dan Magee

FULL STORY: 6 parks in Sandy Springs for sale

Thursday, June 22, 2006 in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Government / Politics Georgia

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