FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County Parks & Recreation Department held its second and final community input meeting Wednesday to gain resident feedback on proposed plans for a future recreation center at Matt Community Park (6555 Wallace Tatum Road).

But it is not too late to express your thoughts via the department’s onine survey at https://forsyth.fetchyournews.com/2021/09/09/haley-brown-named-to-state-regional-animal-control-boards/

Parks and Recreation Director Jim Pryor said more than 800 residents have already completed the survey.

“We are excited to welcome the community’s input on what the recreation center at Matt will provide for the community in northwest Forsyth,”

Forsyth County Parks & Recreation currently has three recreation centers located at Central, Fowler and Old Atlanta Parks. Each center offers basketball gymnasiums, indoor walking track, fitness equipment, fitness classes, instructional classes and community rooms.

The master plan design is being funded by SPLOST VIII and Impact Fees. Other amenities at Matt Community Park include four synthetic-turf rectangular fields, a playground, three pavilions, restrooms, a multi-use trail and six lighted tennis courts. Matt Community Park opened in Aug. 2016.

Heather Kolich, Forsyth County’s Extension Service Coordinator was the first to arrive at Wednesday’s meeting and she offered some excellent suggestions.

“I would like to take a slightly different approach, looking more at the overall community and people getting together, having some multi-purpose spaces with indoor facilities for gaming rooms and playing cards.” She also said she would like to see a facility for teaching gardening and cooking.

For outdoor components, she also suggested a covered space for a farmer’s market  or dog shows or even livestock show.

Those are the kind of ideas that Pryor and the Parks and Rec. Department are looking for.