By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
AUG. 11, 2020 | The Mountain Park community was among Gwinnett’s early residential growth areas, being relatively closer to Atlanta. That area is also one of Gwinnett’s oldest communities, known earlier unofficially as “Trickum.” The intersection of Rockbridge Road with Five Forks-Trickum Road developed early into a commercial community.
Soon it had two major churches within sight of the road intersection, Mountain Park’s Baptist and United Methodist Churches. Soon others would follow.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, activity in the area was growing fast. Yet one element was missing: the community had no news coverage in the media. Leaders were told “You have no city associated with you, and no city council to cover.” From this came the idea to incorporate the area.
Almost immediately, there was a snag: back in 1927, a small community north of Roswell had become incorporated, taking the name of “Mountain Park.” It still exists (population 568, 2018). That doomed the Gwinnett area of having a town by that name, and soon after, the incorporation effort fizzled.
Meanwhile, the community was growing, and was beginning to flex its muscles. After its Garners District voted to join the recreation district, in 1976, the area soon had a 44 acre park. That same year the area voted to back an eight-library expansion of the county, and opened the first library out of that vote in 1977. Meanwhile, a large supermarket chain came to Mountain Park, Super Valu, opening with modern grocery marketing.
But the area had no meeting spaces, except for the basement offices of Attorney Jim Howard or the storage room at Joe Brand’s convenience store, or at what was then Gwinnett County Bank. Led by Rep. Mike Barnett, president of the Mountain Park Jaycees, with the help of Mary Beth Busbee (the governor’s wife), the group soon raised funds for a meeting place. That led to the purchase of a former Norfolk Southern railroad depot, in Shannon, Ga., near Rome. The group first sawed the depot in half, then with the help of the Georgia State Patrol, trucked it to Mountain Park and reassembled it. It’s still in use today.
New free library at J.B. Williams Park in Mountain Park
The Lilburn Cooperative Ministry was working out of Mountain Park, which in 1992 bought its own building, after a drive to raise funds.
But, though thriving commercially, there still is little news out of the community. But that may change, beginning today. At 5 p.m. today, persons interested in promoting the Mountain Park community are having a Zoom meeting. You can join the meeting at this location. The password is 030292.
Among items on the agenda will be the incorporation of the Mountain Park Community Association as a nonprofit agency. Kate Pittman, Mike Ososki, John Strange, Simone Simmons, Wanda McMullen, Kathy Shepherd, Henry Howard, and Lorne Richey are among the organizers of the group. The group’s website is www.mountainparkcommunity.us.
Then on August 20 at 7 p.m., there will be another Zoom general public meeting about the organization’s mission and to discuss what the community needs for future meeting topics. The group is also seeking to identify committees and organize volunteers.
The group is also already planning another Zoom meeting on October 5 where there will be a discussion of an Overlay District criteria with representatives from the Gwinnett Planning and Development Department.
Altogether, the Association has more than 300 families on its mailing list, and almost 500 on its Facebook group. These meetings are scheduled to bring organization to this group and help bring the community closer together.
It’s an effort that goes back many years in Gwinnett, to its Trickum roots. Good luck, Mountain Parkers.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
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