One of the largest drivers of the City of Woodstock's success, both in an economic sense and in its higher quality of life, has been our focus on parks and recreation. My three main goals for Woodstock this year revolve around making homeownership more widely available, attracting additional high paying jobs and employers to our city, and expanding the generational assets that are our parks and trails. These investments are gifts to ourselves, to our children, and to their children.

At the start of the year, we welcomed Brian Borden, our new Parks and Recreation director. Borden comes with a wealth of experience, most recently serving as the Parks and Recreation director for the City of Brookhaven where he oversaw 19 parks and more than 300 acres of green space and trails. He shares our vision and passion for the impact that parks and recreation can have in building a more vibrant, active city.

Woodstock is fortunate to be known for its world-class parks and trails, and the focus on the balance between a vibrant, walkable downtown and outdoor recreational opportunities has made it one of the most desirable places to live in the country.

Current offerings range from the more than 50-acre Dupree Park, which offers playgrounds, walking trails, and sports fields, to Woofstock Dog Park along our amazing trail system. The mountain biking trails at Olde Rope Mill Park and just outside our city at Blankets Creek rank among the most utilized in the nation. Our multiuse trail system is expanding throughout the city, with the most frequented portion being the Noonday Creek Trail, which starts next to Woodstock Arts Event Green and goes to Highway 92 and westward into Towne Lake. Right of way and funding has already been acquired to extend the southern portion of this segment into Cobb County to connect with its extensive trail system, which will tie Woodstock's trails to the Silver Comet Trail, into Atlanta, and beyond.

Among the most exciting opportunities ahead is Little River Park. The City Council has compiled this 106-acre park site along Little River, which will be Woodstock's largest park offering, comprising nearly half of the City-owned green space. Extending from Trickum Road down to the Woodlands, the park is proposed to offer paddle launches, boardwalks, treehouses and viewing platforms, disc golf, a dog park, picnic areas, and an incredible nature experience. The trail system will extend throughout the length of the park, creating significant east/west connectivity for this important recreational asset and alternative transportation option.

City Council has tasked staff with making significant progress on Little River Park this year. In the coming few years, we expect to complete this project and continue to expand the recreational opportunities that are core to what makes Woodstock so great.

I can't overstate the importance that these public assets play in maintaining the incredible quality of life, attractiveness, and economic competitiveness that our community has come to expect. We will continue to focus on expanding these offerings to establish Woodstock as a regional trail hub. The new green space and the connection of our trail system to the communities around us will create a higher quality of life for our residents and visitors.