Construction is set to begin on Monday, Feb. 9, in southeast Forsyth County for a large-scale renovation of Sharon Springs Park (1950 Sharon Road), renovation of exterior amenities at the Sexton Hall Senior Services life enrichment center (2115 Chloe Road) and the addition of a drive-thru kiosk for the Forsyth County Tax Commissioner Sharon Springs office (1950 Sharon Road). The anticipated completion time for the project is early 2028, weather permitting.

In this edition of On the Move, Parks & Recreation Director Kirk Franz and Capital Projects Director John Jefferson discuss progress on the Sharon Springs Park renovation, funding sources and preview the future amenities planned for the park.

“This project is a long-awaited and necessary investment in two of our County’s most heavily utilized and popular assets: Sharon Springs Park and our Sexton Hall Senior Services life enrichment center,” said District 5 Commissioner Laura Semanson. “Combining these renovation projects will provide us economies of scale as we upgrade many well-worn amenities, add new ones to meet growing community needs and address critical drainage, parking and traffic flow challenges.”

The renovation project includes the following enhancements to Sharon Springs Park:

• Improved access with expanded parking, new interior roundabout with raised trail crossings, and new, second paved entrance/exit via Chloe Road with connectivity to Sexton Hall
• Reduced rain delays and maintenance needs with improvements in drainage, storm water management and landscaping
• New 4,500-square-foot community building for events and voting location
• Existing community building repurposed as maintenance/storage facility
• Improved athletic and recreation amenities
• New all-inclusive playground
• Eight upgraded baseball/softball fields
• Two improved synthetic turf, multi-use, rectangular fields
• 75 miles of paved multi-loop trails, including 0.2-mile trail connectivity to the Sexton Hall area
• Eight new pickleball courts
• Eight new tennis courts
• Three new sand volleyball courts
• Two new large pavilion spaces
• Improved batting cages, scoring buildings, concession buildings and restrooms

The renovation project includes the following enhancements to Sexton Hall:

• New large pavilion
• New raised, irrigated garden beds and storage shed
• New 0.2-mile paved loop trail with connectivity to 1.75 miles of trails at Sharon Springs Park
• Expanded parking
• Connectivity to Sharon Springs Park via Chloe Road

“We are excited to begin this renovation project for Sharon Springs Park and the adjoining Sexton Hall Senior Services life enrichment center. The project will provide enhanced recreational amenities to better serve the surrounding community as well as critical traffic flow, parking and drainage solutions,” said Forsyth County Assistant County Manager Tony Tarnacki.

A map of the approved plan is available here. Elements of the plan are subject to change during construction.

The total construction cost is $52.7 million. Funding for the project is provided by various sources, including SPLOST VIII, SPLOST IX, Capital Outlay and Impact Fees.

The project's design consultant is Lose Design, and the contractor is MAPP.

During construction, Sharon Springs Park and the Sexton Hall Community Garden will be closed to the public. The Sexton Hall Senior Services enrichment center and Forsyth County Tax Commissioner Office (1950 Sharon Road) will remain open. Sharon Springs Park is anticipated to reopen following the renovation in early 2028, weather permitting. If feasible, the renovated exterior amenities at Sexton Hall will open prior to the project’s full completion.