Volunteers sought to steer Simpsonwood Park master plan

As part of its 2013 Parks and Recreation Capital Improvements Plan, Gwinnett recognized the need for a large open-space park in the western part of the county. Using SPLOST funds, Gwinnett acquired the 227-acre Simpsonwood property last year.

Ludie Simpson had deeded the track of land, which fronts the Chattahoochee River, as a gift to the United Methodist Church in the early 1970s. The church built a conference and retreat center on a portion of the property. In recent years, the church was forced to sell the property when the conference center began to lose money.