Chattahoochee Hill Country Conservancy has relocated its offices from Hutcheson Ferry Road to the heart of the Rico community. The decision to relocate, paired with other new community initiatives, took the old school and recreation center on Rico Road off Fulton County’s chopping block and put it firmly in the hands of the community.

Relocating the conservancy offices to the old school and recreation center was approved by the Chattahoochee Hill Country board in early 2006 and by Fulton County effective March 1.

“The timing could not have been better,” said conservancy President and Executive Director Stacy Patton. “The building housing our offices was being shut down and we needed to find a more central location. The opportunity came after Fulton County’s budget numbers came in and the center in Rico was going to shut down permanently. After conversations with Fulton County and with the help of Commissioner Bill Edwards, who was instrumental in the arrangement, the conservancy and Rico residents were able to keep it open for the community.”

The new location provides an opportunity for the conservancy and a variety of community-related efforts, going under the name Rico Cultural Center, to have an increasingly positive impact for residents throughout the large Chattahoochee Hills area.

“It’s important for people to know how the community is growing and how to protect it,” Patton said. “Locating our offices in a more central location gives residents the chance to see and understand more about innovative development. Partnering with the Rico Cultural Center helps us all become engaged with the future of this area.”

Far from housing the offices of Chattahoochee Hill Country Conservancy and the Rico Cultural Center, the old school now home to the new library, the conservancy Overlay Design Review Board and continues to host the monthly community breakfast and serve as the location for community meetings.

At the same location, the new Rico Cultural Center Library opened just two weeks ago. The library is currently seeking doanted books and library supplies and is open Monday through Saturday from noon until 6 p.m., said library Volunteer Coordinator Judy Henderson. The Grand opening of the library will be March 18.

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