Summer officially arrives later this month, but for most north Fulton families, the fun has already begun! This year, my wife Dawn and I are officially empty-nesters for the first time, but we fondly recall past summers making memories with our three children.Summertime is unique for every family and is not one size fits all. For many families, the months of June and July mean lazy days lounging and playing outside, weekends at the lake, or beach weeks. For others, this time of year is an opportunity to get involved in a variety of art, sports, or academic camps during the school break.
As most Milton residents know, the original 2012 Parks and Recreation Agreement between the cities of Milton and Alpharetta expired at the end of 2018. While we diligently worked for two years to renegotiate a mutually beneficial agreement, the 2012 agreement wasn’t financially sustainable for Milton taxpayers.
Over seven years, the agreement has cost the City more than $2.6 million — those are dollars that could have been spent to directly expand Milton facilities and programming.
I often explain building our new City Hall in 2016 as the difference between renting and owning a home. That’s a similar analogy for our parks and recreation during the first decade of Milton’s operation.
While City leaders from the highest levels in Milton and Alpharetta continue efforts to negotiate a mutually beneficial agreement, I want Milton residents to know that, in the meantime, the Milton Parks and Recreation Department is hard at work securing partnerships with new program providers to enhance Milton’s current offerings.
In April, the City launched its new music program — Bach to Rock. The Milton swim and tennis facility (located off Dinsmore Road) added more tennis summer camps and swim lesson programs. Several athletic program providers, such as Hopewell Youth Association and Halftime Sports, are offering summer skills camps for baseball and basketball. Staff also continues to research and explore possible third-party program partners for dance, gymnastics, and art. To learn more about Milton programs, visit CityOfMiltonGa.us/parks-recreation.
We understand that the expiration of the agreement between our two cities brings change and disappointment, but I want to assure you that Milton is committed to offering programs most desired by our residents.
As Milton continues to evolve, and with the passage of Milton’s recent 2027 Parks and Recreation Master Plan, we’re confident that we can successfully grow and enhance our Parks and Recreation programs for our residents.
If you have additional questions, feel free to contact Milton’s Parks and Recreation staff at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Wishing everyone a safe and fun-filled summer!
to your business!