Douglas County District 3 Commissioner Tarenia Carthan was joined by Vice Chair Kelly G. Robinson and District 1 Commissioner Henry Mitchell III as Douglas County broke ground on the long-awaited Punkintown Nature Preserve Park on Thursday, June 30, 2022. When Commissioner Carthan was elected four years ago, she made obtaining another park in her district a priority.
“With 84 acres donated to the county about 7 years ago while Commissioner Mulcare was still in office, I made it a goal to see this day come to break ground,” Commissioner Carthan said. “I look forward to see the complete project come to fruition with trails, picnic areas, waterless rest rooms and a 100-foot bridge to span over Bear Creek.”
Gary Dukes, Park & Recreation Director, said there will be about 1,000 feet of shoreline on the reservoir for possible opportunities to expand with Douglasville - Douglas County Water Sewar Authority to add canoeing and other park sports.
Vice Chair and District 2 Commissioner Kelly G. Robinson said the park will blend in with the community’s character. “Just listen,” Vice Chair Robinson said. “What do you hear? The conservation and preservation of this community will come through. This matches the character of the community. Every now and then we get it right.”
The park is estimated to cost $1.2 million to be built and the money for this park comes out of the county’s coffers, not SPLOST funds.