A Decade of East Cobb Park

There were games and face-painting for kids and birthday cake for all. 

On a day when rain clouds gathered overhead, they held off long enough for the community to mark 10 years of East Cobb Park. 

A decade (and a few weeks) after the park was dedicated in 2003, many of the individuals involved in its creation gathered Saturday morning.

Dignitaries and volunteers alike remarked about how the park has come to be not only a focal point for recreational activity in the area, but also how it has forged a greater sense of community and influenced similar efforts in Cobb and beyond. 

"This started a whole new pattern in the county about how to get a community involved and develop a community asset," said East Cobb resident Bill Carver, a member of the Cobb Recreation Board. 

The idea for a central community park began with the East Cobb Area Council of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce.

Several leading community volunteers -- Mary Karras, Sunny Walker and Kim Paris -- talked about how they and others worked to raise nearly $1 million to purchase land from farmer Elbert Bowles, who owned the 13 acres that forms the heart of East Cobb Park. 

"We were all a little skeptical at first that we could pull this off," Karras said.

They were the first three presidents of the non-profit Friends for the East Cobb Park, but their growing belief in the project rubbed off throughout the area. Schools, faith communities and civic and other organizations were asked to contribute. 

So were elected officials, including East Cobb resident and U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson. 

The Friends organization had been promised matching funds by Cobb County government once the land was purchased, and in December 1999 the promise to help develop East Cobb's first passive park was kept. 

"This is the dream realized," Walker said. "It didn't come about without every single part of the community taking part. 

"There isn't a single part of this community that doesn't use this park."

East Cobb Park has grown to more than 20 acres, with bridge access to Fullers Park, the construction of a gazebo and the addition of playground equipment for children with special needs. 

Current Friends president Sharon Mason said future plans call for more stairs to be built connecting the park to the main parking area, and improving the park trails between both parks. 

Another active participant in fundraising for the park is the East Cobb Civitans, which will hold another "wine and vine" event in October. 

"It has clearly improved the quality of our lives," former Cobb Commission Chairman Sam Olens, now the Georgia Attorney General, said of East Cobb Park. "And it clearly has improved the quality of our community."