Mabry Park completion approaching; delays caused by weather

Bad weather has prompted a delay in the completion of Mabry Park, which was initially slated to be done by early 2019.

There’s still not a specific date that has been announced for completion and opening. But at a Cobb Board of Commissioners work session Tuesday, Cobb Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affiairs director Jimmy Gisi said weather has been a major factor in the delay.

“If it would ever stop raining, we could get this thing done in a few weeks,” he said in outlining parks SPLOST projects.

Built on 26.5 acres of former Mabry family farmland on Wesley Chapel Road near Sandy Plains Road, Mabry Park got under construction last January. A 365-day contract with Integrated Construction and Nobility, Inc., of Whitesburg, Ga. was begun on Jan. 4, 2018.

However, the project reached the 361-day stage on Dec. 31. Cobb Parks estimates that 85 percent of the project is complete, including the entrance road from Wesley Chapel, picnic areas and the playground area. Completion of trails needs to be done, trees are continuing to be planted, and boardwalk deck work also is ongoing.

The playground construction took place during the fall, but steady rainfall at the end of last year has hampered efforts to complete work involving the rest of the park landscape.

On Monday the Friends of Mabry Park posted updated photos of the construction on its Facebook page.

The citizens organization has worked for years to create Mabry Park, whose build-out was delayed several years due to the recession.

The county spent $4.3 million to purchase the land in 2008 and a master plan was completed in 2011.

Mabry Park’s annual operating cost will be $104,992; of that $72,122 will go for staff salaries and benefits, and $31,800 is estimated for yearly supplies and utilities. A one-time cost of $22,230 for equipment and maintenance tools will be funded after construction is complete.

Construction funding comes from the 2016 Cobb government SPLOST.

“We feel it’s going to be a super nice park for that part of the county,” Gisi said.

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