Long-awaited plans for improving Shaw Park will be disclosed next week at a community engagement meeting.
Cobb PARKS and Commissioner JoAnn Birrell have put out notices for the meeting, next Thursday, Feb. 26, from 6-7:30 p.m. at Northeast Cobb Community Center/Gritters Library (880 Shaw Park Drive).
County spokeswoman Shelly Weidner told East Cobb News that conceptual plan will involve updating athletic fields, including synthetic turf on some of them, as well as updating the tennis/pickleball/basketball court area and adding amenities, including batting cages, LED lighting and concrete walkways.
Details of those plans will be presented at the meeting, with a chance for the public to provide input, Weidner said.
“The meeting will be held in an open-house format, similar to our recent SPLOST community engagement sessions, allowing attendees to view the plans, and speak directly with staff.”
The redevelopment of Shaw Park is included in the current 2022 Cobb SPLOST (Special-Purpose Local-Option Sales Tax), with the project designed to “better meet the recreational needs and desires of the surrounding community.”
The Shaw Park redevelopment, according to the SPLOST project list, is estimated to cost $4 million (you can read through the thumbnail description at this link on page 37).
Shaw Park is the second park in the county parks system, and has been showing signs of age for years.
There are five softball fields, nine pickleball courts, two tennis courts, playgrounds, picnic pavilions and the community center.
“Shaw Park was first developed in 1970, and has served several generations of families since,” the SPLOST project booklet states. “However, the park design and amenities are now outdated, and the park no longer meets the recreational needs of the community.”
It’s been nearly three years since Birrell held a town hall meeting that got a little testy at times, with youth softball parents pleading to preserve their ballfields pickleball enthusiasts demanding more courts for their fast-growing activity.
Birrell told East Cobb News this week that softball fields will remain part of the park, and the proposal calls for adding pickleball courts.
“We’re not decreasing the number of fields,” she said, adding that those attending the community engagement meeting will be able to see a variety of proposed layouts for the part and provide feedback.
The delay in doing so now was in part due to the redevelopment of Gritters Library and to address SPLOST funding issues she said have been resolved.
“There is more than one option, and we want to see what’s best before we continue,” Birrell said.
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