Johns Creek OKs spending $78K on tourism projects

Johns Creek will spend $25,000 to install, landscape and light a permanent installation of The Wall that Heals, a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. AJC FILE

Johns Creek will spend $25,000 to install, landscape and light a permanent installation of The Wall that Heals, a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. AJC FILE

The Johns Creek City Council has approved $78,000 in spending on three tourism-related projects.

A total of $40,000 will go toward improvements at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve; $25,000, the installation, landscaping and lighting of The Wall that Heals, a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.; and $13,000, an art sculpture at the Bell/Boles roundabout.

A total of $192,647 in the fiscal 2019 budget is for tourism product development projects funded by the city’s 7 percent hotel/motel excise tax.

With $78,000 now committed, the remaining $114,647 was proposed to go toward two gateway markers on State Bridge Road. But council members “expressed a desire to improve and enhance the existing recreation and park system amenities … before beginning a campaign to mark the gateways into the city with signage,” according to an agenda report to the council.

The council directed staff to discuss the matter with the Johns Creek Convention and Visitors Bureau board and return to the Jan. 14 work session for further discussion.