Forsyth County Schedules Public Meetings, Survey for 10-Year Parks Plan

Forsyth County Parks & Recreation launched a public outreach effort to update its 10-year Parks & Recreation Master Plan, combining an online survey with a series of in-person meetings to gather resident priorities for facilities, programs and funding approaches. The outreach is intended to ensure local input guides investments in parks and recreation across the county.

The county announced the outreach on Jan. 12 and scheduled five public meetings across Forsyth neighborhoods. A meeting at Sawnee Mountain Community Building took place on Jan. 26 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The Central Park Recreation Center session is scheduled for tonight, Jan. 27, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Additional meetings will be held Jan. 29 at Coal Mountain Community Building from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Feb. 2 at Fowler Park Rec Center from 6 to 8 p.m., and Feb. 4 at Old Atlanta Park Rec Center from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Forsyth County Parks & Recreation is asking residents to complete a short online survey to share their views on priorities for facilities, programming and how parks should be funded. Participants who complete the survey will be entered into a small raffle as a thank-you. County officials have posted project materials and the survey link on a project website so residents can review background information before attending meetings or responding online.

Local implications are practical and immediate. Input collected now will inform planning decisions that could affect where new playgrounds, trails, athletic fields and community programs are located and maintained over the next decade. For neighborhoods like Coal Mountain and areas around Fowler Park, that could influence how local greenspace is programmed for youth sports, walking access and community events. For residents focused on accessibility and aging-in-place services, the plan update presents an opportunity to press for senior-friendly amenities and expanded programming.

Participation matters in a county experiencing steady population and development pressures. Master plans translate public priorities into capital budgets, grant applications and maintenance strategies. Open meetings in familiar community buildings make it easier for Forsyth County residents to present specific needs tied to their neighborhoods.

Residents who want to weigh in should either attend a nearby meeting or complete the county’s online survey via the project website where meeting materials are posted. Forsyth County Parks & Recreation will compile the feedback into the master plan update, which will guide parks decisions and funding priorities over the coming decade; early participation is the most direct way for residents to shape that outcome.