NEWS BRIEFS: Late Dacula mayor’s bequest funds park upgrade

The Dacula community will soon be able to enjoy a new playground and other improvements at Maple Creek Park, thanks to the generosity of former Dacula Mayor Jimmy Wilbanks. The park is at 425 McMillian Road in Dacula.

Wilbanks

The redesigned playground will feature all new equipment and include a separate Tot Lot specially designed for toddlers. New grading and specialized playground turf will be added, providing improved accessibility for the area. 

The plan also includes a separate physical fitness area with exercise options designed for adults. A new four-foot-wide concrete sidewalk will be installed around the entire playground area to provide pedestrian connectivity from the existing sidewalk to the asphalt path. Additional sidewalk improvements will be made, and new landscape will be installed in the area. 

Maple Creek Park improvements and beautification are being funded by an endowment fund created by former Dacula Mayor Jimmy Wilbanks, who served as an elected official for 17 years. Wilbanks, who was born and raised in Dacula, was first elected mayor of Dacula in 1971 and served two terms. He was re-elected in 2002 and was serving his third consecutive term, when he died in 2019. 

Mayor Trey King says that the “new playground and improvements at Maple Creek Park are very exciting and will be a great addition for the community to enjoy for many years to come. The city is grateful to Jimmy Wilbanks and his generosity that is making the project possible.”

Sealed bids for the Maple Creek Park New Playground Addition Project will be received by Dacula City Hall until 3p.m. on, September 1, 2022. There will be a Pre-Bid Conference at 3 p.m. on August 16, 2022, at Dacula City Hall. All bidders are encouraged to attend this conference. 

Duluth playground design contest won by Suwanee resident

Big winner in a Duluth playground design contest is Lyn-Nell Huffman of Suwanee, who gets a $1,000 check for her prize winning effort. 

Huffman with Mayor Nancy Harris. Photo provided.

She came up with a willow tree idea, which will be used for inspiration when the new piece of playable art is installed for the Town Green in Taylor Park. Construction is anticipated to begin in late 2023.  The winner is shown with Duluth Mayor Nancy Harris. 

Winning second place was Jackson McGregor of Suwanee with his hot air balloon creation. Third place went to Megan Vladick for a robot balloon man entry. She is 14 and attends Coleman Middle School. Her mother is Laura Vladick.

A total of 175 qualifying submissions were received with the youngest artist being just three years old. Designs ranged from sea creatures to tree houses, pirate ships to crash landed satellites and musical instruments to giant animals. 

County awards study for the Piedmont Pathway Trail

A scoping study for the Piedmont Pathway Trail alignment will be conducted by Heath and Lineback Engineers, Inc. Gwinnett commissioners approved a contract not to exceed $325,000, funded 74 percent by the Atlanta Regional Commission and 18 percent by 2017 SPLOST funds. 

This trail is one of several signature trails proposed in the Gwinnett Trails Master Plan. The study will establish a corridor pathway with secondary options, fostering community input with an overall goal of connecting Gwinnett trails to others in DeKalb and Barrow counties. The 12-month study is necessary for future trail design.  The money for the project comes from the Atlanta Region Commission, $240,000, plus $60,000 from Gwinnett SPLOST Funds, and another $25,000 from the Recreation capital fund.

NOTABLE

Rye is new assistant city manager in Norcross

The city of Norcross has a new assistant city manager. She is Tracy Rye, who has previously been the director of the Development and Planning area. She replaces Barbara Bender, who retired.

Rye

Rye is a native of Atlanta, and a Georgia Tech graduate with a masters in city planning also from Georgia Tech. She has over 20 years experience in local government and for 15 years was with Douglas County government. 

During her term in Norcross, she and her team have worked on the update of the Norcross Comprehensive Plan and a rewrite of the City’s zoning ordinance, followed by the Buford Highway Master Plan and City’s Green Communities Platinum Recertification. 

Tracy lives in Sugar Hill, is a member of Gwinnett Church, an avid hiker, enjoys traveling and spending time with her family and two Dachshunds, Milo and Munro.

City Manager Eric Johnson says that “Tracy’s lengthy experience working in local government as well as the boards and committees, provide both the needed breadth of experience, and a growing knowledge of the community we serve.”

Gwinnett Young Professional picks 45 for 2023 Class

Gwinnett Young Professionals (GYP) announces the Journey Class of 2023. Forty-five emerging young leaders have been named to this year’s class, making 2023 the largest Journey class to have been selected since the program’s inception in 2020.

Journey was established to support the growth and development of young professionals within their places of work. Backed by the Gwinnett Chamber, GYP cultivates next generation leadership through core initiatives like the Journey Leadership Institute that enable young professionals to grow, connect and impact the greater Gwinnett region.

Members of this year’s class include:

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