45 Acre Park To Be Built, Land Acquired Through Eminent Domain

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA –The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution authorizing eminent domain proceedings to acquire about 45 acres of land for a park located at Lawrenceville Suwanee and Old Norcross roads, an area lacking in recreational opportunities.

A masterplan for the park will be developed with input from nearby residents. The park will be a community park for the Discovery High School area west of Lawrenceville. Studies of different recreational uses consistently show a gap in the area to be served by the park.

County officials tried unsuccessfully to negotiate with the owner of the two parcels, one about 40.2 acres and the other about 4.3 acres. However, the need for parkland in the area was so great that the County officials decided to employ eminent domain to acquire it. One of the County’s Parks and Recreation Capital Improvement Plan goals includes balanced acquisition of parkland in underserved areas.

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“We always use eminent domain as a last resort,” said Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners Chairman Charlotte Nash. “We were concerned that if we didn’t act, the land would be developed and we wouldn’t be able to meet the needs of our residents. So after much debate and a lot of thought, we decided to employ this tool for the greater good.”

District 3 Commissioner John Heard said the park will serve a dense population that lacks recreation space, and it could help serve the Discovery High School cluster athletic programs.

“We believe parks are essential for the quality of life for our residents, and can also be an important draw for economic development,” he said. “As always, it is my number one goal to make Gwinnett County the best place in the country to do business.

Eminent domain refers to the process whereby a government can acquire property for a “public purpose,” such as roads, public utilities and parks. With the Commission’s approval, the County will file paperwork with the Superior Court requesting the appointment of a special master, who will hear testimony from each side’s appraiser to determine just and adequate compensation for the property. Either side can appeal from the special master’s award to a jury trial in Superior Court.

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