Roswell's City Council on Monday, Aug. 10, approved roughly $419,266 in park improvements and voted on a $4.5 million state funding application for a pedestrian trail connecting the historic district to Woodstock Park, according to the meeting agenda.
The three parks contracts, all funded by the $179.6 million bond package voters approved in November 2022, cover new tennis courts at East Roswell Park and a gym overhaul at Hembree Park:
- Signature Tennis — $197,760 to replace Courts 1 through 4 at East Roswell Park, 9000 Fouts Road (total project authorization: $227,424)
- Covington Flooring Company — $117,027 to replace the gymnasium court floor at Hembree Park's Green Gymnasium (total: $128,729)
- Southeastern Surfaces and Equipment — $104,478.78 for new basketball goals and ADA-compliant bleachers at the same gym (total: $114,926)
Steven Malone, director of Recreation, Parks, Historic & Cultural Affairs, presented all three items at the July 28 Committees of Council meeting, where they were unanimously advanced. The Hembree Park renovation also includes LED lights, wall pads and new interior paint, with a target completion of December 2026. Hembree field revitalization ranked No. 3 among resident priorities in the city's 2022 parks master plan.
East Roswell Park has received roughly $4.8 million in improvements since 2023. Signature Tennis is the same contractor that converted two courts at Crabapple Center into six pickleball courts in October 2025.
Green Street trail bid returns to council
The bigger story: council took up the Green Street Mobility resolution after it died at committee July 28 when no councilmember seconded it. The resolution asks the Georgia Transportation Infrastructure Bank for a $3 million low-interest loan and a $1.5 million grant to build a brick-paved multi-use trail along Green Street and convert Plum Tree Street into a pedestrian path connecting directly to Canton Street.
The project would also link the city's 395-space parking deck on Alpharetta Street, which opened in May 2026, to Woodstock Park. The city has already spent $800,000 on engineering and right-of-way work.
If awarded, the 10-year loan carries a 3.04% interest rate with a 1% closing fee.
"We understand how important convenient parking is for our downtown businesses, employees, and visitors," Mayor Mary Robichaux said in April when the city announced free parking during Green Street construction.
Also on the agenda
The consent agenda included $1.25 million for Pine Grove Phase 1A right-of-way acquisition, which funds a new roundabout at North Coleman Road and Pine Grove Road plus an 8-to-10-foot multi-use trail along Pine Grove Road. City Hall HVAC contracts totaling nearly $1.16 million (Comfort Systems and Trane Technologies) and Public Safety headquarters plumbing work also passed on consent.
Council also took up the second reading of the city's first-ever data center zoning ordinance and the contested 62-townhome rezoning proposal at Old Roswell Road, which city staff and the Planning Commission had twice recommended denying.
The GTIB application deadline is Aug. 21, with awards expected in December 2026.
