In February 2018, the City of Milton acquired the one-time Milton Country Club -- a golf course and club in central Milton. Soon thereafter, citizens and officials worked to envision the best use of this unique property. These efforts led to the creation of a Master Plan -- viewable by clicking here.

Milton City Park and Preserve can be accessed at 1785 Dinsmore Road. It is divided into two parts: the "active" component (for recreation programs and with facilities) and the "passive" (which is more natural and does not have development). Details on both can be found below.

The entire property is managed by the City's Parks and Recreation Department. If you have questions or comments regarding either the trail or "active" area, email Parks and Recreation Director Tom McKlveen at tom.mcklveen@cityofmiltonga.us.  To view of PDF map of the property, click HERE.

'Passive' Component 

The vast majority of this property -- 130 of its 137 total acres -- is for "passive" use. This marked the first purchase using the voter-approved, $25 million greenspace bond for properties serving as nature preserves or conservation land. Thus, there will be no new development in this area, though there will be trails for the public to use. The first such trail -- a 2.5-mile loop, or 1.25 miles each way -- opened the day after Earth Day in April 2022 

This "passive" preserve contains two distinct areas. The North Woods forms a narrow u-shape, has a more intimate relationship with the surrounding neighborhoods, and abuts the "active" portion of the property. This section also contains two lakes and is bordered by Chicken Creek. The South Woods is a more wooded, hilly, and secluded area with Chicken Creek on its eastern border. The South Woods contains some bottom-land hardwood forest that has soft soil due to water saturation and experiences flooding. 

CLICK HERE for info on expenditures, timelines and relevant links on this "passive" section.

'Active' Component

Seven acres of this property is for "active" use. This means that some moderate construction is allowed, in accordance with the Master Plan. Likewise, Parks and Recreation-affiliated programs can operate in this part of the property. Specifically, the "active" part of Milton City Park and Preserve includes:

• Milton City Pool
• Milton Tennis Center
• The community center -- the former clubhouse that, after extensive renovations, opened in April 2022 with recreational rooms, community space, and for events 

CLICK HERE for details on expenditures, pictures, relevant links and more related to facility improvements in this property's "active" component.

History

One of the most distinguishing features of Milton City Park and Preserve is Chicken Creek. Local historians believe this creek was named not after any feathered animals but an Indian family using the last name of Chicken. Native Americans likely from the Cherokee tribe with the name Chicken lived near Chicken Creek and Cooper Sandy Creek flow into the Little River, just east of what’s now the Arnold Mill Road/Highway 140 bridge.

It is believed that during the 1830s (and most likely earlier) members of the Chicken family lived on both sides of Little River. Records show that five Chickens traded at James Dorris’ store roughly 200 yards west of the present-day Crabapple Chase/Heritage Walk/Crabapple Road roundabout between 1835-1838; there are no indications of such sales involving Indians past 1838. … That’s the year the federal government forced thousands of Native Americans to leave their homeland in the Southeast and move to the Great Plains in what became known as the “Trail of Tears.” 

The site of the former Milton Country Club (before it became Milton City Park and Preserve) has its own history. For years, it served as the Milton branch of the Alpharetta Country Club. Around 2017, it became the Milton Country Club – a name it would only carry for a year, after the City of Milton’s purchase of the property using parts of the voter-approved $25 million greenspace bond.

Naming process

In 2022, the City initiated a public process to name what was until then referred to as the former Milton Country Club. The name "Milton City Park and Preserve" emerged victorious after a very spirited, and very close, public online poll taken by hundreds. All other four contenders got considerable support (with Milton Meadows placing second) in the poll, which opened in late April and closed at midnight on May 11, 2022.

This capped a weeks-long process that included Council and citizens offering well over 200 name possibilities. Thanks to all who participated. And see you soon at Milton City Park and Preserve!