Courtesy of Kimberly Reveil
Sounds of laughter, dogs barking and children joyfully yelling filled the air as Tallahassee residents gathered to celebrate the grand opening of Fred George Park and Greenway, on Wednesday.
Located on the corner of Fred George Road and Capital Circle NW, its 160-acre greenway and 10 acres of recreational amenities marks the park as the largest on the northwest side of town.
District 3 Commissioner John Dailey spoke of how important the park is the area.
“The second item I voted on the night I was sworn into office was this park,” Dailey said.“This park is very special for several reasons. Our families used to have to drive across the county to play on a regulation size field and now we have one right here in our backyard.”
The new estate has many conveniences including a regulation sized baseball diamond complete with a concession stand and restroom. A playground and multipurpose field are available to the community as well.
Visits from nearby neighborhoods, businesses, the Leon County Lake Jackson Library and Community Center are made effortless thanks to the newly installed sidewalks.
The greenway is ideal for nature lovers and was specially developed for the preservation of the plants and animals that inhabit it. Hikers, cyclists, walkers and joggers will be able to enjoy trails that pass through the woods and lead to the natural sink.
Northwest Tallahassee resident Joe Franklin was excited that he and his family were able to witness history by being at the opening of the park.
“We saw the park being built and thought how great it’s going to be to have an area where we can walk and our daughter can play. We wanted to be here for the grand opening because we believe this is going to be something we can always remember,” Franklin said.
Rosalyn Deckerhoff, member of the Northwest Tallahassee community for over 30 years, shared her excitement about the park as well.
“I grew up on this property and I knew the people that lived in the neighboring houses,” Deckerhoff said. “I’m thrilled about what was done with the land and will definitely be visiting often.”
Leon County also renovated a historic home on the property to be used as an education center and museum operated by the Wildwood Preservation Society.
The park’s namesake, Fred George, was an area resident of Tallahassee and a well-respected farmer, property owner, game warden and World War I veteran.