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Citys Main Street Park development proceeding
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The latest in a long-term park development behind Dawsonville's Municipal Complex has taken a potential step forward.

During its March 16 meeting, the Dawsonville Downtown Development Authority voted to sign a commitment letter for securing finances for the park.

"We have asked for a $100,000 Trail Grant for the trail to go around the Main Street Park," said Dawsonville Mayor James Grogan. "The grant applications have been scored and [GMRC] has said we should have scored high."

The city voted in July to give Chairman Gordon Pirkle and secretary/treasurer Seanie Zappendorf clearance to sign the $550,000 loan for the property that would make up the 18-acre park.

As part of the deal, the city would lease back the property from the authority.

The Main Street Park would include greenspace and an amphitheater, as well as a walking trail around the property, which is what the city's requested Trail Grant would pay for.

"That grant is imminent right now, which is really good," Grogan said. "Hopefully we'll get that and we can get a little something started on the park. That grant will be a major thing for us."

The grant request will go before a state steering committee for approval today.

Then, final approval should be given by the United States Department of Natural Resources board in April.

"This is something the mayor wants to do without using tax dollars," said Zappendorf. "Which is why we are applying for as many grants as possible for development of this park area."

The city said that it expects to hear final word on the grant by April 1.

"Even though we have money from SPLOST for the park, we still want to help alleviate the cost for the tax payers," Grogan said. "Any extra will also let us improve and expand the park even more."