The 2030 Comprehensive Plan is now being updated to the 2040 Comprehensive Plan:
the 2030 goals on greenspace levels should be clear in the 2040 goals

Here are the upcoming 2040 Comprehensive Plan meeting dates.

• Meeting in District One
  6-8 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 15
  West Cobb Senior Center, 4915 Dallas Highway, Powder Springs
  MDJ Article:  West Cobbers sound off on traffic growth, housing
• Meeting in District Two
  6-8 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 29
  East Cobb Library, 4800 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta
• Meeting in District Four
  6-8 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 12
  South Cobb Community Center, 600 Lions Club Drive, Mableton
• Meeting in District Three
  6-8 p.m., Monday, Nov. 16
  Mountain View Community Center, 3400 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta

Parkland Goals for the 2040 Comprehensive Plan based on the 2030 Comprehensive Plan

• Cobb County's Total acres of parkland in the 2030 Comprehensive Plan is listed at 13,756 acres or about 6.2% of all county land, actually lower than in previous years. (see chart from 2030 Plan below)

From the Cobb County 2030 Comprehensive Plan

 

• One of Cobb County's goals in the 2030 Comprehensive Plan has been to acquire at least 1,448 acres as parkland, just to maintain that 6.2% level. 

 

• Another goal in the 2030 Comprehensive Plan is to save 10% and up to 20% of all county land as greenspace, which would mean between 8,000 acres - 30,000 extra acres need to be added to get to those levels.  (see chart below)  
  
  
• The new 2040 Plan should include these acreage goals for parkland.

 

From the Cobb County 2030 Comprehensive Plan

 $40 Million Park Bond an Important First Step

• The Park Bond 2008 Referendum on the ballot for $40 million to purchase parkland property was overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2008, but Cobb County has not yet issued it.  The $40 million Park Bond should now be issued as a first step in acquiring parkland acres. 

 

• Many of the properties to purchase with 2008 Park Bond have been developed, and the amount of residential land available for purchase has been shrinking.  The time is now to save the land before it is all developed.

​2030 Comprehensive Plan: Park Purchasing Goals

• Currently Cobb County parks per people ratio is below the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) standard minimum of 6.25 acres of preserved greenspace per 1,000 people.  The NRPA standard is 6.25-10.5 acres per 1,000 people.
  
  
• To achieve the lowest standard of 6.25 acres per 1,000 people, Cobb County needs to purchase at least 1,448 acres before 2030.  The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) standard is 6.25-10.5 acres per 1,000 people, so more land should be purchased to get the amount of preserved land closer to 10 acres per 1,000 people.
  
  
• Cobb County should continue its earlier plan to purchase properties selected as ideal locations for parkland, but also take an active role in identifying more land to preserve for Cobb residents.  The future health and well-being of the Cobb residents depend on this.​
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• Cobb County has only 6.2% of all county land preserved in either parks or greenspace, yet the standard is at least 10%, and in 2000, Cobb County became a partner to the state-wide Georgia Greenspace Program to preserve 20% of all county land.  
  
  
• The Georgia Greenspace Program became the Georgia Land Conservation Program, which offers grants to counties taking steps to save county land.