Friday, November 29, 2002

Duncan Park to close after all

By JOHN THOMPSON
jthompson@TheCitizenNews.com

Unless an early holiday miracle occurs, Fairburn's Duncan park will be shut down tomorrow.

Fairburn city administrator Jim Williams said the city will continue to work with Fulton County staff to try and find a solution to reopen the park that serves hundreds of residents in South Fulton County.

But the most pressing priority now, Williams said, is finding somewhere for the 11 students who were participating in an after school program at the park.

"We thought we had found a solution, but we still can't find a place for these children yet," he said.

Williams is not sure where the children will head Monday afternoon when school is over.

The closing of the park is the latest chapter between Fulton County and Fairburn over who should pay for the park's operations.

Fulton officials have cited a state law that states when a municipality reaches 5,000 in population and annexes parks into its municipalities, it must start picking up the costs.

Fairburn's population topped the 5,000 mark in the last Census and the political war began over who should pay for the park.

Fulton County Commissioner Bill Edwards has maintained the law is clear.

During the park struggle, Edwards pointed to recent news articles showing how rapidly Fairburn is growing and suggested placing a recreational tax on the citizens to pay for the facility.

Edwards said he can't pay anymore for the facility, since it would set a precedent for future municipalities who annex parks into their city limits.