More park improvements are coming to the Fairview community.
The Henry County Board of Commissioners voted at its January 20 regular meeting to accept a $2.6 million bid from J.R. Bowman Construction Co. for design and build services on two multi-purpose athletic fields as well as a concession and restroom building on property at Fairview and Panola roads, adjacent to a replacement fire station and a new police precinct. The commissioners also approved a $2 million budget amendment from the West Village Parkway SPLOST account for the construction, equipment and lighting of the project.
The vote was unanimous as the item was part of the meeting’s consent agenda and there was no discussion. Funding for the project is available in the West Village Parkway account. A separate agenda item saw the board approve a $148,412 expenditure for a new concession and restroom building a couple of miles away at Hidden Valley Park.
“We are off to a tremendous start in 2021 for the developing health and wellness walkable commercial corridor located in North Henry County, and we have made a number of critical investments to support the continued development of our business community,” said Bruce Holmes, in whose district the project will be built. “Thanks to the Board of Commissioners, eight-foot multi-use trails were approved this year extending from Village Park along Fairview Road to the Dekalb County line where we have been working to connect into a proposed passive Ward Lake walking trail plan with the Dekalb district commissioner.”
Holmes noted other initiatives in the area such as the Nidus Development and Piedmont Healthcare partnership plans, along with the recent police and fire stations approved for development by the commissioners, all of which he expects to contribute to making the corridor more attractive for future business and private investment.
“I anticipate construction of the new mixed-use community to begin sometime in the second quarter of 2021 providing much needed density within our developing town center,” he said. “Now we currently have a private and public employment hub simultaneously under development, which should intensify interest from future businesses such as sit-down restaurants interested in areas with potential mid-day lunch crowds.”
Walking trails and a new soccer and lacrosse complex were also approved within the new public safety campus, “providing police and fire a tremendous opportunity to enjoy free time and release stress in an outside setting dedicated to them and their families,” Holmes added.
“Although Village Park has been a great success helping to attract new business and youth sports programs, local soccer and lacrosse programs weren’t able to schedule adequate practice and games in coordination with football due to demand for facilities. Thanks to the BOC, we’ve approved the construction of two new fields and concessions facilities dedicated for youth soccer and lacrosse programs in Henry County. I’m proud that we’re also making significant improvements to Hidden Valley Park in 2021. We have approved new pickle ball courts, tennis court resurfacing and will be constructing new restrooms and concessions soon. These added improvements will greatly benefit our active seniors, youth baseball and tennis communities,” he said.
The first phase of the Greenway Trail, extending from Panola Mountain State Park into the Fairview community, has been completed by the PATH Foundation. Future plans include extending the trail into the commercial corridor, then down East Atlanta Road into the city of Stockbridge. The trail currently stops in the woods short of Austin Road Middle School. “We will need coordination and support from the Board of Education if we’re going to make this connectivity a reality,” according to Holmes.
West Village Parkway is now being widened to four lanes with eight-foot, multi-use trails on both sides of the road. Similar work will be started soon along Fairview Road from Panola Road to Hearn Road.
“Our future focus will be on further road infrastructure investments and resurfacing projects,” said Holmes. “I look forward to continue collaborating with our community and helping to further improve quality of life and making the necessary investments for travel by vehicle or by foot in the coming years.”
