Archway Executive Committee Seeks to Further UGA-Generated Plans on Lakeshore Park and Treadmill Lake and Considers Long-Term Storm Water Management Plan

Over the past year, UGA College of Environment and Design Masters student Rachel Johnson worked closely with the Dalton-Whitfield community to develop extensive plans for the redesign of a Lakeshore Park, a community park located near an elementary school; Threadmill Lake, a former lake with a breached dam that could serve a storm water function; and the neighboring community.  Rachel presented her work to the Dalton-Whitfield Archway Executive Committee in September, sparking energetic dialogue and a request for more information on the project from local leaders.  On Wednesday, October 10, Dalton State College professor John Lugthart and Dalton Utilities Senior Vice President of Watershed Services Mark Marlowe spoke to the Executive Committee about the feasibility of the Lakeshore Park and Threadmill Lake plans. 
 
City Manager Ty Ross reported that the Dalton Parks and Recreation Department (DP&R), who is responsible for the oversight and management of Lakeshore Park, has informally divided the plans for the park into three Phases:  Phase I focuses on revitalizing a soccer field; Phase II focuses on adding new tennis courts; and Phase III focuses on the wetlands and the lake in the south end of the park.  Phases I and II are incorporated into DP&R’s capital improvement wish list over the next five years because they can be economic drivers (bring in sporting events, etc.).  Phase III’s completion will likely depend on outside funding.  All projects will be a stretch in this current economic environment. 

Professor Lugthart, who was responsible for convening the citizen group that informed Rachel’s renderings of Lakeshore Park, noted that there is a grant opportunity with the Conasauga River Alliance for some improvements on the south end of Lakeshore Park.  He said that $10,000 to $40,000 is available in grant funding if the community can secure a 1 to 1 match with local funders.  He further noted that the grant will require at least five community partners, which he believes have already been identified through the Archway process.      

Mark Marlowe spoke to the Executive Committee about the community’s long-term storm water management plans and the importance of Threadmill Lake to those plans.  Mr. Marlowe shared that in 2008, the City of Dalton gave Dalton Utilities responsibility for managing storm water.  He noted that fifty plus years of development without adequate storm water management has resulted in significant property damage and water quality issues.  Mr. Marlowe shared that the Threadmill Lake area represents one of two areas in the community that needs the most work.  He explained that Threadmill Lake previously served as an informal storm water facility; however, several years ago the government told the home owners’ association (HOA) that owns the lake that they either had to breach the dam or pay millions of dollars to improve it.  The HOA destroyed the dam at a $50k expense and, consequently, the area does not have an adequate storm water facility.  Mr. Marlowe asked Rachel Johnson to draw some concepts to demonstrate how the restored lake could serve the dual purpose of serving as a storm water management facility and valuable community amenity.  He noted that it will take at least $2.5 million to return the lake to functionality, but the long-term consequences of not restoring the lake into a watershed will be much more costly.  

As a result of Mr. Marlowe’s presentation, the Executive Committee acknowledged that the community will ultimately have to address its storm water management issues.  Without adequate storm water management, water quality goes down which results in higher water bills for property owners.  In addition, significant property damage will continue to occur with each major storm.  Currently, there is no mechanism for paying for significant storm water management in the community.  The Executive Committee agreed to consider this issue further in the future.

You can view the final plans for Lakeshore Park and Threadmill Lake at the following links:

Lakeshore Park Final Plans

Lakeshore Park Phasing Plan

Threadmill Lake Final Plans

Threadmill Lake Trail Connections