There are few areas in southwest metro Atlanta as beautiful as Cochran Mill Park in Chattahoochee Hills. It was the park, and its expanding amenities, that was the setting for the Arbor Day ceremony held Feb. 21.
Chattahoochee Hills Parks Commissioner Diana Wilson provided the opening remarks in the brief ceremony attended by more than 50 people.
“Today we celebrate the remarkable transformation of Cochran Mill Park,” Wilson said. “In just four years, since it has been owned by the city of Chattahoochee Hills, it has gained new trails, new trail markers, a new trail map, new parking lot, new playground, new kiosk, new water line, newly resurfaced road through the park, a new speed hump at the crosswalk and new rumble strips.”
Wilson said six oak trees are being planted in honor of the mayor and City Council for their support of the many park improvements.
“The six oak trees will be known as ‘Council Oaks’ and will mark the beginning of the planned new interpretive trail,” said Wilson.
Mayor Tom Reed followed, providing a history of the circumstances that led to the purchase of the former Fulton County park properties, including Cochran Mill Park, after the city was voted into existence in mid-2007.
“Half of the households in the community gave money to buy all the city parks,” Reed said. “This is a city built on volunteerism.”
In the spirit of Arbor Day, Chattahoochee Hills was among Georgia cities recognized on Feb. 18 for their commitment to caring for and managing their public trees. Chattahoochee Hills previously planted trees and held an educational program on evaluating tree health at the GATEway (intersection of South Fulton Parkway and Rivertown Road) to assist in meeting the standards necessary to be a Tree City USA for the 2014.
“Trees clean our air, filter our water and keep us healthy by providing shade, along with countless opportunities to enjoy recreation and natural beauty,” said Robert Farris, Director of the Georgia Forestry Commission. “The citizens of Chattahoochee Hills can take pride in their community leaders’ commitment to trees and forested land, on Arbor Day and every other day of the year.”
History was made in June 2007 in south Fulton County as Chattahoochee Hills residents gave overwhelming approval to form the new City of Chattahoochee Hill Country. A turnout of more than 47 percent of registered voters resulted in 83 percent approving the charter of the new city.
One of the goals for cityhood was to secure ownership Cochran Mill Park, Hutcheson Ferry Park and a large tract of virgin land, all owned and operated at the time by Fulton County. The effort began a few months before the 2007 vote that established the city.
The idea was to secure the deal being offered by Fulton County to the other new cities that swept into existence in 2006 and 2007. With the “Buy Our Parks Now” campaign led by the Chatt Hills Civic Association and the Chattahoochee Hill Country Conservancy, residents raised more than $250,000 for the purchase the two parks, additional greenspace and a few years of maintenance costs.
The donations ran the gamut, from very small to very large, and in the end the parks became a part of the new city. As for the time frame needed to secure the donations, it took less than two months of citizen volunteer effort.
Today Chatt Hills is in possession of the 780-acre Cochran Mill Park, the 103-acre Hutcheson Ferry Park and 234 acres of greenspace property that fronts the Chattahoochee River on the city’s west side.
