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Gardens and good governance
An urban oasis is coming to College Park, but some residents are asking whether a recently approved 32-acre botanical garden will be run with “good governance.”
The Fulton County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the botanical gardens’ development during a March 5 meeting. The approval gives the City of College Park the green light to develop a new botanical garden on the county-owned Camp Truitt property, located at 4300 Herschel Road.
The commissioners approved a land lease agreement to College Park for the roughly 40-acre Camp Truitt site. Ahead of the March meeting, the College Park City Council passed a resolution to provide $5.4 million to create the garden.
Grace McPhillips attended the March 5 meeting to express concerns. She shared some of those doubts on the “Speak Up College Park” Facebook page. “I expressed doubt of our ability to staff and manage the 39-acre property properly…” McPhillips wrote. “Basically, I encouraged caution, conversation, and an inclusion of parameters. To be clear, I am for gardens and good governance.”
Other residents chimed in with additional comments expressing doubts whether the city could provide staffing and continued funding for the garden.
Over the next several months, College Park officials will develop the initial plans to create the garden, which will include a welcoming facility and educational center.
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