Three beautiful parks on Lake Lanier are opening back up just in time for summer fun—and Forsyth County is stepping in to help. These parks are Keith Bridge Park, Long Hollow Park and Two-Mile Creek Park. They are owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), which had to close them earlier this year in May. But thanks to teamwork between local and national leaders, families can now visit them again.
Why Were the Parks Closed?
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers takes care of several parks along Lake Lanier. They help keep them safe, clean and ready for visitors. But earlier this year, they didn’t have enough people or money to keep all the parks open. That’s why Keith Bridge, Long Hollow and Two-Mile Creek were closed for a while.
What’s Happening Now?
Forsyth County and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers came up with a plan. They agreed to work together to reopen the three parks under something called a “Challenge Cost Share Cooperative Management Agreement.” That’s a fancy way of saying both sides will share the work and cost to keep the parks open and running smoothly.
This agreement will last for one year. During this time, Forsyth County will help manage the parks and make sure they stay safe for everyone. The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office will even have officers there to help out, just like park rangers do.
Assistant County Manager Tony Tarnacki shared his thoughts, saying, “We’re happy Forsyth County can help reopen these lake parks. It took a lot of people working together—from county, state and federal groups—to make this happen. It’s a great example of teamwork.”
What Parks Are Open Now?
Here’s a list of all the parks on Lake Lanier that Forsyth County runs. These parks are open and ready for you to enjoy:
- Charleston Park
- Mary Alice Park
- Six Mile Creek Park
- Young Deer Creek Park
- Bald Ridge Campground (you need a reservation for overnight stays)
- Sawnee Campground (reservation required)
- Shady Grove Campground (reservation required)
And here are the parks in Forsyth County that are owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers:
- Tidwell Park
- Little Ridge Park
- Two-Mile Creek Park
- Vanns Tavern Park
- Keith Bridge Park
- Long Hollow Park
- West Bank Park
Note: Now that Forsyth County is helping, Keith Bridge, Long Hollow and Two-Mile Creek are back open again.
Why This Is Good (Pros)
- Families Get to Enjoy the Parks Again: People love to go fishing, hiking, boating, or just relaxing near the water. With these parks open again, there are more places to have fun outside.
- Teamwork Helped Solve the Problem: The reopening shows how city, state and national groups can work together to help the community.
- Extra Safety and Support: With the Sheriff’s Office helping out at the parks, people can feel safer while they’re enjoying nature.
- Good Use of Local Resources: By sharing work and costs, the County and USACE can keep the parks open without stretching their budgets too thin.
What Might Be Difficult (Cons)
- Temporary Agreement: The agreement only lasts one year for now. If a new plan isn’t made after that, the parks could close again.
- County Staff Have More to Do: Taking care of more parks means more work for Forsyth County employees, which could lead to extra costs or staffing needs.
- Not All Parks Are Day-Use Friendly: Some parks, like campgrounds, need reservations, so they’re not as easy for last-minute trips.
- Shared Responsibility Can Get Complicated: When two groups share park duties, there might be confusion about who handles what if problems come up.
Why It Matters
Parks are important places for people to play, relax and spend time with family. They give kids space to run around, help grownups unwind, and offer everyone a break from screens and busy days. By reopening these three parks, Forsyth County and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are showing that they care about keeping the community connected to nature.
Whether you want to go boating with your parents, fish off the shore with your grandpa, or have a picnic with friends, these parks are perfect places to enjoy a sunny day.So grab your water bottle, pack some snacks and plan a visit—your favorite lakeside park might be open again, thanks to a little teamwork.
