Dunwoody buys 9 acres for $5.7M to build a new park

Dunwoody has purchased about nine acres of green space to create a new park.

The city’s Public Facilities Authority, which consists of City Council members, acquired two residential parcels on Vermack Road, according to a news release issued on Tuesday.

The parcels, located at 4809 and 4819 Vermack Road, encompass about 9.3 acres and include an open field and wooded area.

“When I heard these parcels were available, I saw the opportunity to preserve this green space,” Dunwoody Mayor Lynn Deutsch said in the release. “I look forward to working with the community to create something fabulous.”

The purchase, which will cost about $5.7 million, will remain pending for 60 days before it becomes finalized, the city said. During that time, an environmental study, appraisal and title research will take place.

The purchase will be financed using the Georgia Municipal Association’s Brick and Mortar Installment Sale Agreement Financing Program, which is designed to help cities acquire land for new city buildings, parks, first responders and law enforcement.

The city used the same financing structure to purchase its City Hall in 2016.

“We’re always looking for opportunities to chip away at Dunwoody’s land deficit for parks,” Brent Walker, director of Dunwoody Parks and Recreation, said in the release. “There is a lot of potential with this property for nature trails and open play areas.”

Once the acquisition is finalized, the city will have more than 200 acres of park space. The city currently manages 13 parks and recreation facilities, including planned parks at three other locations.

Further information on the city’s plans for the Vermack Road site have not been released.

For more information on the city’s parks, visit dunwoodyga. gov/government/departments/ parks-and-recreation.

COURTESY The Vermack Road property that Dunwoody agreed to purchase last week encompasses about 9.3 acres, including this open field and adjacent wooded area.