Peachtree Corners residents push back on planned upgrades to Simpsonwood Park
Atlanta News First
[{'start': '0.080', 'end': '4.400', 'text': 'A group of Gwynet County residents'}, {'start': '1.680', 'end': '6.240', 'text': 'pushing back on $7 million in proposed'}, {'start': '4.400', 'end': '8.480', 'text': 'upgrades to a park in Peach Tree'}, {'start': '6.240', 'end': '10.960', 'text': 'Corners. Atlanta News First Adam Murphy'}, {'start': '8.480', 'end': '13.759', 'text': 'is at Simpsonwood Park. Adam, what has'}, {'start': '10.960', 'end': '15.920', 'text': 'these residents so upset?'}, {'start': '13.759', 'end': '17.359', 'text': 'The natural trails make this park unique'}, {'start': '15.920', 'end': '19.199', 'text': 'and many people that come out here and'}, {'start': '17.359', 'end': '21.520', 'text': 'enjoy this are worried that if the'}, {'start': '19.199', 'end': '25.720', 'text': 'county comes in and makes upgrades, it'}, {'start': '21.520', 'end': '25.720', 'text': 'will disrupt the natural appeal.'}, {'start': '25.920', 'end': '32.400', 'text': 'Nestled in the heart of Peach Tree'}, {'start': '27.680', 'end': '32.400', 'text': "Corners, there's a natural oasis in the"}, {'start': '33.160', 'end': '39.040', 'text': 'city. Simpson is a peaceful park located'}, {'start': '36.399', 'end': '41.600', 'text': 'off Jones Circle featuring woodland'}, {'start': '39.040', 'end': '43.920', 'text': 'hiking trails, pristine creeks, and an'}, {'start': '41.600', 'end': '46.160', 'text': 'abundance of wildlife. I think the'}, {'start': '43.920', 'end': '48.480', 'text': 'appeal of this particular park is the'}, {'start': '46.160', 'end': '51.120', 'text': 'naturalness of it. The fact that you can'}, {'start': '48.480', 'end': '53.840', 'text': "go back and there's no people back"}, {'start': '51.120', 'end': '56.640', 'text': 'there. Winnette County purchased the 222'}, {'start': '53.840', 'end': '59.680', 'text': 'acre park 10 years ago and now has plans'}, {'start': '56.640', 'end': '62.239', 'text': 'to make upgrades to the property.'}, {'start': '59.680', 'end': '64.239', 'text': "It's awful. It's awful. George Best"}, {'start': '62.239', 'end': '66.479', 'text': 'lives near the park and is not in favor'}, {'start': '64.239', 'end': '68.080', 'text': 'of the county changing the landscape. He'}, {'start': '66.479', 'end': '70.799', 'text': 'and others have posted these Keep'}, {'start': '68.080', 'end': '72.880', 'text': 'Simpson natural yard signs around town'}, {'start': '70.799', 'end': '74.560', 'text': 'as a show of opposition. Well, where'}, {'start': '72.880', 'end': '76.720', 'text': "we're sitting right now, this this would"}, {'start': '74.560', 'end': '78.560', 'text': 'become a parking lot. And then the place'}, {'start': '76.720', 'end': '79.920', 'text': 'right down the hill there will be the'}, {'start': '78.560', 'end': '82.320', 'text': "place where they'll catch the runoff"}, {'start': '79.920', 'end': '83.280', 'text': 'from the parking lot in a pond in an'}, {'start': '82.320', 'end': '84.880', 'text': "area where there's I think there's"}, {'start': '83.280', 'end': '87.600', 'text': 'currently a trail going through there.'}, {'start': '84.880', 'end': '89.759', 'text': 'Our aim is to maintain a natural'}, {'start': '87.600', 'end': '91.759', 'text': 'environment, a sustainable environment.'}, {'start': '89.759', 'end': '93.840', 'text': 'Glenn Borman is the deputy director of'}, {'start': '91.759', 'end': '95.920', 'text': 'parks in Gwynet County. He said a'}, {'start': '93.840', 'end': '98.000', 'text': 'natural resources assessment of the park'}, {'start': '95.920', 'end': '100.880', 'text': 'shows there are areas that are not'}, {'start': '98.000', 'end': '102.960', 'text': 'sustainable like invasive plant species'}, {'start': '100.880', 'end': '104.960', 'text': 'and massive erosion that must be'}, {'start': '102.960', 'end': '107.439', 'text': 'addressed.'}, {'start': '104.960', 'end': '109.920', 'text': 'One of the outcomes of this plan will be'}, {'start': '107.439', 'end': '113.119', 'text': 'to have a natural resource management'}, {'start': '109.920', 'end': '115.040', 'text': 'plan which will preserve and protect the'}, {'start': '113.119', 'end': '117.520', 'text': 'natural environment for the flora, the'}, {'start': '115.040', 'end': '120.719', 'text': 'fauna to remove the invasive species, to'}, {'start': '117.520', 'end': '123.040', 'text': 'remove uh the eroded areas, the trails,'}, {'start': '120.719', 'end': '126.159', 'text': 'the stream banks, and restore all that'}, {'start': '123.040', 'end': '128.640', 'text': 'to to a more uh sustainable environment'}, {'start': '126.159', 'end': '130.800', 'text': 'long term. The county plan also calls'}, {'start': '128.640', 'end': '133.200', 'text': 'for the construction of new pavilions,'}, {'start': '130.800', 'end': '135.920', 'text': 'paved trails, and a river overlook at'}, {'start': '133.200', 'end': '139.040', 'text': 'the park. How does that translate into'}, {'start': '135.920', 'end': '141.840', 'text': 'tearing down more trees, laying concrete'}, {'start': '139.040', 'end': '144.720', 'text': 'for roads accessible for bicycles all'}, {'start': '141.840', 'end': '146.720', 'text': "through it? It doesn't make sense to me."}, {'start': '144.720', 'end': '149.520', 'text': 'Now, the deputy director of parks told'}, {'start': '146.720', 'end': '153.120', 'text': 'me this project will proceed and they'}, {'start': '149.520', 'end': '155.200', 'text': 'will begin construction in 2028 at'}, {'start': '153.120', 'end': '158.239', 'text': 'Simpsonwood Park in Peach Tree Corners.'}, {'start': '155.200', 'end': '158.239', 'text': 'Adam Murphy.'}]