As noted in a previous post, the Cobb Board of Commissioners on Tuesday voted to approve a $90,213 reimbursement to the Friends for the East Cobb Park, which donated nearly $120,000 last summer to help the county purchase part of the adjoining Tritt property and preserve it for green space.
The vote was unanimous (it was on the board’s consent agenda).
Wylene Tritt sold 22 acres at 3540 Roswell Road to the county for a cost of $8.4 million, but a supplemental parks bond account established in 2017 had only $8.3 million available.
The Friends for the East Cobb Park stepped in to make the donation from its endowment. Shortly after that, the group announced a fundraising campaign to replenish the endowment.
Tritt, who had owned a total of 54 acres on what was once a working farm, had planned to sell her land for $20 million for a senior living development proposed in 2013 by the son and brother of U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson.
But rezoning for the $200 million Isakson Living plan, which was dubbed Tritt Walk, was rejected by Cobb commissioners in 2015 after community opposition. Isakson Living sued, but dropped its legal challenge in 2016 and did not purchase the land.
At that time, Wylene Tritt wrote Cobb commissioner Bob Ott asking that her property be considered for future county acquisition for park purposes.
The funding for the reimbursement will come from the Cobb Parks 2008 bond fund balance.
The Friends group is a private, all-volunteer, non-profit citizens organization that was formed in 1998 and helped acquire land and made improvements to create East Cobb Park, which opened in 2003.
The organization stages events at the park, including concerts and a holiday tree lighting, and helps fund continuing improvements.
The commissioners tabled another action item Tuesday that would have approved spending $168,000 for license plate reader devices at select Cobb County parks, including East Cobb Park, Fullers Park and Terrell Mill Park.
Ott objected to the matter, saying installing the cameras would be an invasion of privacy.
Commissioners also approved a change order to delay completion of ongoing Sandy Plains Road construction work until December.
Commissioner JoAnn Birrell said her office has been communicating that delay—prompted by weather and utility relocation issues—and wanted to make it formal.
She said she’s received a lot of calls from constituents, and understands the frustration over traffic backups, especially with school back in session.
“I don’t want to see another extension on this,” Birrell said.
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