Hello Kemp Park users
I wanted to make you aware of impending plans for the park in case you didn’t know. This will be a long communication, so please find time to read it. As part of the Friends of Kemp Park, I feel communication is important to everyone using the park.
PARKS is collecting bids from companies at the moment to build structures on the property that are in the original Master Plan for the park; namely, a 65+ car parking lot, two medium pavilions, and restrooms right in the middle of the park, down just beyond the gray barn. Work could begin in as little as 12-18 months. They will also have to build a two-lane road into the middle of the park for these amenities. I included a photo, and the parking lot, etc, would be right in the middle of that view.
The Master Plan is now posted at the entrance to the park for you to look at, I added a photo of it below, and you can view it on the Cobb County website… www.cobbcounty.org/parks. Click on News. Scroll down to 1/17/2020 “Parks Bonds Properties Info” and click on that. Scroll down to find Kemp Family Park Master Plan.
Quick History: This Master Plan was discussed by the public in two meetings in February and August of 2019, and then it was presented to the Recreation Board on 10/17/19. The vast majority of people wanted it a passive park, no ballfields or anything, and the Master Plan reflects that.
The trouble with the Master Plan being adopted back in 2019 was that no one really had seen the property or walked on it. And so it looked fine on paper.
Currently, since people have been able to access and walk through the park property the past few years, 99% of people coming to the park have said comments like:
“Please don’t change anything in the park.”
“Don’t put a parking lot right in the middle of the view.”
“Parking should be before you enter the park, not in the middle.” (Examples of this would be Price Park, Green Meadows, and Allatoona Creek Park.)
“Don’t touch the red and gray barns.”
“There’s no park with views like this one.”
“It is so scenic and peaceful, with glimpses of wildlife all the time.”
Those last two comments are so very true. This is a natural gem of a park in West Cobb. It would be nice to keep a wildlife/natural identity for the park.
Also, the Master Plan is way overpopulated with pavilions; ie., 6 small shelters (1-2 picnic tables), 4 medium shelters (5-6 picnic tables), and 1 large shelter (~10 picnic tables) down in the back lower pasture. This property does not need all those structures impeding the view, just maybe a picnic table or bench in a couple of those sites. So… these changes would all need to be modified in the Master Plan.
I’ve already e-mailed to see if the Master Plan can be changed, but the answer I received is that since it was approved by the public, it would take public input meetings again to make tweaks/changes, and a vote by the Commissioners. Thus I am making you all, the public using the park the most, aware of what’s coming. And if you’d like to see the Master Plan changed, please email Michael Brantley, the head of PARKS (Michael.Brantley@Cobbcounty.org) and Keli Gambrill, our District 1 Commissioner (Keli.Gambrill@Cobbcounty.org), and let them know what you’re thinking for Kemp Park’s future.
In light of what we’ve been hearing from all the park users, it would be great to see wildlife and nature take precedence over concrete and structures.
So, the “Good News” is the County is giving some attention to the park (the 2022 SPLOST had $1 million earmarked for restrooms and parking). The “Bad News” is that it will alter the ambiance of the park forever.
But, as I said, communication is important, so I just wanted to make sure you were all aware of what’s coming.
Also, just so you’re aware, you will see in the Master Plan a future phase to link to a proposed Greenway from Allatoona Park to Price Park (Phase 1), and then eventually to Kemp Park (next phase). This would be years away in the making, so my thought is that we don’t need to worry about that now.
I told you this would be long! Please look at the Master Plan, think about how you want Kemp Park to actually be, and if you feel the Master Plan should be tweaked, email Michael Brantley and Keli Gambrill with your thoughts. You can also copy the FriendsofKemp@gmail.com and/or me if you wish (PeggyAshley426@gmail.com). As president of the Friends of Kemp Park, I value hearing everyone’s opinions. Thank you for enjoying the park and being involved!
Peggy Ashley
Friends of Kemp Park
Some of my personal thoughts (sorry, this post is getting even longer!)… If the parking lot, etc, cannot be moved, it definitely needs to be scaled down. There is no need for 65+ parking spots and two pavilions. How about ~20/25-car gravel lot and a small restroom like the “red barn” at Green Meadows Preserve. However, having a two-lane road cut through to the middle of the property, I think about hikers/walkers/dogs (and wildlife) needing to cross that road to access the different areas of the park, and that might bring unintended consequences!
Now, there has to be restrooms put somewhere, and more parking somewhere. There could be a row in the front yard of the Caretakers’ house next to the fence, parallel to Burnt Hickory Road, just using gravel or mulch to keep it natural looking.
There could also be extra parking (and restrooms/small pavilion) in the second entrance just a few yards down the road where a house used to stand.
I also believe that the less intrusive the Park is developed, the less maintenance cost for the County. Think of the cost to get plumbing/sewer and electricity to the middle of the park for those restrooms and pavilions. Would the lights at the restrooms be on all night like at Price Park? Would someone need to check the park to make sure everyone’s gone before closing the gate at dark? If they eventually build ALL those shelters, someone would need to empty all the garbage cans on a regular basis, etc.
On the other hand (because it’s not my job to tell you what to do or how to think; it’s up to your own brain and heart), some of you might want what’s in the MP. For all you park goers who have said not to change a thing, let me also give another point of view. If there were a small pavilion somewhere down past the gray barn (that should look rustic to maintain the “working farm” ambience), that could be a place for families to bring a picnic. That’s an idea. But, the road and parking lot do not need to be put there. And no plumbing or electricity needed. Another thought is that if they hold public meetings again, there could be a whole slew of requests from people.
Thanks for listening! This is a Cobb County park for everyone to enjoy, so let’s make it a wonderful place to be!