Residents can now enjoy 150 acres of state-of-the-art recreation, diverse walking trails and engage in a multitude of activities and sports as Cherokee Veterans Park is now officially open to the public.

Located on Cumming Highway in northeast Cherokee, the park is one of the largest active parks in the county, with more than 75 acres for active use and green space available in phase one.

Veterans Park consists of two natural-grass athletic fields, an artificial-turf athletic field, two tennis courts, two pickleball courts, a playground and skate park, two paved walking/biking paths (totaling almost two miles), and concession/restroom buildings as well as all the associated interior park roads and parking with a maintenance facility, according to Recreation and Parks Agency Director Bryan Reynolds.

Possible future additions include a baseball/softball complex, additional tennis and pickleball courts, a large community pavilion and a recreation center along with added parking for each feature. Construction on additional phases depend on if or when additional funding becomes available, said Reynolds.

With Veterans Park now open, local veterans have formed a steering committee to help plan a memorial recognizing U.S. veterans within the park. After residents reached out to county commissioners with concerns that a memorial was not in the scope for phase one in the parks plan, the board unanimously approved $15,000 earlier this year to go toward the memorial.