County to Vote on Land Purchase for New Park in Oak Grove

The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners will vote tomorrow on the purchase of more than 6 acres on Lavista Road for a future park.

The total cost of the land is not to exceed about $2 million, according to a draft of the proposal released last week. The land will be paid for with about $1 million from the 2001 Parks Bond Acquisition Fund for District 2 and another $1 million from the countywide 2006 parks bond issue.

No designs have been set for the park, District 2 Commissioner Jeff Rader said. But the county plans to purchase the land to create a park with walking trails, according to the proposal. The land is "historically significant," the proposal said, "and an interpretation of original family ownership is planned."

"We want to be participative as we figure out what to do with it," Rader said.

Greenspace preservation in District 2 has been a priority of Rader's. It's important that the county acquire the land because much of the district was developed without greenspaces in mind, he said. Now, the area is mostly developed, so large tracts of bare land are hard to come by.

“It’s important for us to take advantage of greenpsace where we can in District 2," Rader said.

A contract between the seller and the county is read to be signed, he said. The land is currently owned by Paulee Partners headed by Rick Porter. It's adjacent to Lavista Road east of the intersection with Oak Grove Road.