By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support local journalism.
Lakeside parks set to top talks at these next Dawson County meetings
BOC PREVIEW May 4 2023
During an Oct. 19, 2022 meeting, Brad Jones with Pond and Company showed attendees potential upgraded camping options for War Hill Park to get feedback for the park’s master plan. - photo by Julia Hansen

Local recreation spaces will be at the center of talks at Dawson County’s May meetings, in more ways than one. 

Dawson County Board of Commissioners

What: Work and voting sessions

When: Thursday, May 4 at 4 p.m., promptly followed by the voting session

Where: Dawson County Government Center, second-floor assembly room; 25 Justice Way

How: Attend in person or watch live via the Dawson County Government's Facebook page 


War Hill Park master plan meeting

What: Dawson County Parks and Recreation presentation of draft master plan for War Hill Park

When: Wednesday, May 10 at 6 p.m.

Where: Fire Station 2 community room; 145 Liberty Drive

How: Attend in person or check out the presentation and draft plan on Parks and Rec’’s website, https://www.dawsoncountyga.gov/parksrec

Parks and Recreation Director Matt Payne is scheduled to present a request for the county to enter into a lease agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for three local parks along Lake Lanier, according to the agenda for the Board of Commissioners’ May 4 work session. 

Payne is expected to explain the prospective lease details, revenue and budget needs for Nix Bridge, Thompson Creek and Toto Creek parks, stated an agenda memo.  


This story continues below.

Also scheduled for the work session is a request for the county to verify its commitment to fund half of a $300,000 grant, or $150,000, to fund the Styles Park project. 

Last year, longtime resident Anne Styles and her family donated 120 acres of land located off of Ga. 183 and Elliott Family Parkway for a future park.  The land is located in central Dawson County, in the more rural District 1. 

If approved for the state grant, the county would contribute the matching money from SPLOST VII funds. 

Parks and Rec and consultant Pond and Company will present a draft master plan for the lakeside War Hill Park during a May 10 community meeting at Fire Station 2. 

This draft plan follows a previous community meeting and survey from this past October.

Once county officials finalized the long-term master plan, they can then submit the documents to the Corps of Engineers, who owns the parkland and leases it to Dawson County.

This would allow for future projects to be implemented on a phased basis, a public notice for the meeting stated. 

Following the May 10 meeting, Parks and Rec is expected to post the updated presentation and draft plan to its department website. 

In public safety news, a vote has also been scheduled to decide on the location for Dawson County’s forthcoming E911 and emergency operations center.

Dawson County commissioners will have a chance to make a decision on the new location during their May 4 voting session. 

The EOC and E911 center is one of several projects voters approved as part of a Dawson County Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax in 2021. That SPLOST VII measure included a planned $5.5 million for the EOC and E911 center and $3 million for a radio system upgrade, a total of $8.5 million.

DCN will continue to follow these Dawson County initiatives.