Johns Creek Mayor Unveils Boardwalk at Annual State of the City Address

Mayor John Bradberry delivered his State of the City address at the Boardwalk at Town Center on March 26, using the park's public debut to lay out a year-end scorecard anchored by a $560 million private development set to open steps from Forsyth County's southern border on October 29.

The speech, held at the Boardwalk behind City Hall at 11360 Lakefield Drive, doubled as the site's first large-scale public activation. Bradberry tied the park's construction to his signature fiscal argument: that Johns Creek holds a 3.492 millage rate, the lowest of any city in Fulton County, while still advancing capital investment. The Boardwalk's partially complete trail system, featuring 15-foot-wide paved surfaces, terraced seating, pedestrian plazas, and pond overlooks, gave attendees something concrete to walk through while he made the case.

Full construction of the Boardwalk is on track for summer 2026. When complete, the park will include a bandshell, amphitheater, and a boardwalk spur leading to a three-acre constructed wetland engineered for stormwater management. A trail connection from Medlock Bridge Road to the Boardwalk's interior, adjacent to the Hyatt Place Hotel, is already open. Along that trail stands "Ferns," a public art installation built from iron salvaged from the historic Rogers Bridge over the Chattahoochee River. The city described the March 26 event as "a first look, a new gathering place, and a glimpse into the future."

The bigger consequence arrives in October. Medley Johns Creek, the 43-acre mixed-use development built by Toro Development Company that broke ground in January 2025, is scheduled for a grand opening on October 29, 2026. The project carries a $560 million price tag and will bring retail, restaurants, fitness and entertainment concepts, a boutique hotel, and lifestyle office space to the Town Center. Boehringer Ingelheim has already signed a 73,000-square-foot office lease at Medley, a deal brokers describe as the largest new Class-A office lease north of the Perimeter in nearly five years. For Forsyth commuters who travel SR 141 and Medlock Bridge Road daily, the October opening signals a significant shift in traffic volume and commercial activity along those shared corridors.

Bradberry also flagged ongoing public works commitments: sidewalk extensions, median improvements, and a pedestrian tunnel for which the city broke ground in November 2024 and expects to complete by summer 2026. He framed those projects as part of a multi-year push to expand park acreage and improve walkability citywide, guided by the 2023 Parks Master Plan.

The full video of the address is posted on the city's YouTube channel for residents who missed the event.