Henry County approved buying 48 acres to expand Gary Barham Park. The park is off North Ola Road in district 3.
The purchase is in alignment with the county’s parks master plan. The plan, adopted in 2024, recommended a park expansion.
Gary Barham Park Expansion
Henry County approved the purchase of 48.3 +/- acres during the January 7 board meeting. The property is located off Snapping Shoals Road. It is adjacent to the existing Gary Barham Park. The expansion will also allow the park to have a second entrance off Snapping Shoals Road. Right now, the only entrance is on North Ola Road.
The land purchase will cost $1,160,000. It is being paid for through parks and green space impact fees. These fees are dollars paid by developers on new construction.
“We have been working on this for three years,” shared District 3 Commissioner Dee Anglyn. “It was part of [Commissioner Barham’s] vision to expand that park as well. Thank you to all involved for making this happen.”
The county adopted its parks master plan in 2024. The plan recommended expanding Gary Barham Park as a community park. Here is more info about community parks:
Community parks often address many of the same concerns as regional parks, but focus on serving a more localized area, with a smaller footprint. These spaces should include a strong emphasis on creating a framework for informal recreational uses such as walking, gathering, and informal play, within which active recreational fields and courts are nested.
Henry County Parks Master Plan, page 206. (PDF link – 328 pages)
In addition, the plan recommended the following improvements at the park:
- Develop a 0.75-mile side path from Franklin Rape Park to Gary Barham Park and the Ola schools.
- Consider adding a recreation center in coordination with Henry County Schools.
- Renovate baseball fields 1-5 including fences and backstops.
- Resurface parking lots on old side.
- Add football / soccer fields.
- Renovate playground.
There is no immediate timeframe for park expansion.
About Gary Barham Park
Henry County re-dedicated North Ola Park for late Commissioner Gary Barham in spring 2024. Barham was instrumental in the park’s development and upkeep throughout his life. The park is home to seven baseball fields for ages 3-14.
Featured image shows a map of the Gary Barham Park expansion and nearby Ola schools. Clayton Carte / The Henry Reporter map created with Datawrapper.
