Forsyth County’s parks and recreation board had its work cut out for them on Thursday, as they approved several new items.
The meeting was also the first for new District 5 member Bibiano Lopez, who was appointed last month.
All votes were 4-0, with District 3’s Kimberly Brown absent.
Therapeutic programs
Forsyth County’s parks department will take a closer look into a partnership with Special Olympics Forsyth County and have meetings with the group after a presentation on therapeutic programs for those with disabilities.
“We would love to partner with you on running the program and designing and developing it in any fashion that you see fit,” said Linda Fitzpatrick, the local coordinator for Special Olympics.
Among the therapeutic programs proposed were adapted aquatic, art programs, a performing arts club and adapted sports and outdoor programs.
The department will look into space and funding concerns.
New fees for out-of-county residents
Following up on a discussion from the previous month, board members moved ahead with new fees for out-of-county residents on parks.
As of this fall, the new fees for out-of-county use will be $150 per player per season for sports with booster clubs, $120 for use of recreation centers and double whatever the resident fee is for a programs, $150 to rent a picnic pavilion for a day and $300 for to rent a community building for a day.
Residents will pay $20 per player per season, $10 for recreation centers with a 50 percent senior discount, $75 for a picnic pavilion and $150 for a community building.
As part of the motion, the parks board will look at the fee structure every two years.
New home for Girl Scouts
Board members also approved by a 3-0 vote, with District 4 member Gary Cooper abstaining, to allow Shady Grove Park to be used for Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta.
“The recently lost access or usability to a lake park they had used for their summer camp for the last seven, eight years,” said Matt Pate, natural resources manager.
The program will host about 200 kids and will operate four weeks in the summer, two in June and two in July, Monday through Friday.
Archery, survival skills and life skills will be among the programs at the park.
Cooper said he recused due to working with the programs director and that all kids in the group were Forsyth residents.
