What's Going On?

Do you use Hopewell Road in Milton as a part of your daily commute? Do you enjoy Milton’s rural and equestrian heritage?

In a recent alarming discovery, the "equestrian" city of Milton purchased the adjoining properties at 13580, 13482, and 13480 on Hopewell Rd (a total of approximately 40 acres). The residents who live in direct proximity to these addresses did NOT know the city had purchased these properties until the sales were complete. They certainly didn't know the city of Milton had plans to build an athletic mega park with three lighted football fields and four lighted baseball fields on these properties sandwiched between large acre horse properties and quiet, long-established neighborhoods.

Why Should You Care?

Do you enjoy sitting in traffic? How about traffic accidents?

Having a large active-use park on a two lane road coupled with the proposed entrance location on a limited view site spells disaster for anyone using Hopewell Road. The announced reduction of the city's contributions to traffic calming devices (January 2023) certainly won’t help curtail accidents. Plus, the city purchased the properties without conducting any traffic studies on the proposed park.

Do you care about the environment? Your hometown environment?

The city also has yet to conduct any EPA/groundwater/runoff studies. The purchased properties are buffeted by Cooper Sandy Creek which feeds into Lake Providence.

Do you care about maintaining Milton's rural heritage?

Milton has always been promoted as a rural community.  Per the City's online YouTube channel: "Incorporated on Dec. 1, 2006, the City of Milton is consistently ranked as offering residents among the highest quality of life in Georgia. Milton is a rural haven with a strong sense of community, located 30 miles north of Atlanta in Fulton County. The City features beloved horse farms, tree-lined roads, as well as distinct restaurants and shops. Yet recently, the amount of development in our rural haven has been on a consistent uptick and shows no signs of stopping. Increased development is forcing our beloved horse farms and tree-lined roads to vanish and is taking away the charm and character of the city--one of the main reasons residents moved to Milton in the first place. Per the City's description on its Twitter account: A proud, distinctive, vibrant Atlanta suburb that embraces community and its rural heritage. Unnecessary development is making our rural heritage a thing of the past despite many of the city's current leaders having campaigned on the platform of "Keep Milton, Milton". In a classic bait and switch, unfettered development and secretive land purchases are in direct opposition to that policy.

Do you care how your tax dollars are spent? 

Citizens of Milton should have been consulted before the purchase of these properties for a large active use park. If this is something the residents want and need, why hide their intent until after the purchase is complete? 

In addition, did you know the city also purchased the properties at 2475, 2545, and 2485 Bethany Bend directly adjacent to North Park and plans to put an indoor athletic facility? Are you seeing a pattern here?

Not only were residents not allowed to voice their opinions, an equivalent park (North Park) is located 1.3 miles away and two other athletic parks are located less than four miles away (Wills and Bell Parks).

What Can You Do?

The time to act is NOW. 

Please join your concerned neighbors and help us fight this proposed park. Sign the petition to let your voice be heard before it’s too late.