More Than Just "The Year of the Virus"

Dealing with a pandemic has been every city's top priority for the last several months. But, in the City of Alpharetta, we have not let current challenges derail our efforts to prepare for the future. And, since many of Alpharetta's most recent accomplishments may have been overshadowed by other headlines, we would like to highlight them here.

Though it was delayed by bad weather and other construction issues, the transformational project to improve safety and mobility along the entire Rucker Road corridor has been finished. Now, families throughout the corridor can walk or ride bikes safely from their homes to Wills Park and downtown. The roundabouts, bridges, and other operational improvements along Rucker Road have also improved traffic flow while the streetlights and landscaping make it one of the most attractive streetscapes in town.

Another milestone was the completion of Alpharetta's first indoor facility on the east side of Georgia 400. The City's partnership with the Ed Isakson/Alpharetta Family YMCA allowed us to open the new Preston Ridge Community Center in time to support programs aiding area families and students with virtual learning programs (which many schools used to combat the spread of the coronavirus). As we continue to emerge from the threat of COVID-19, the Preston Ridge Community Center will become a beautiful new public space our residents can enjoy for meetings, activities, and functions.

Over the summer, Alpharetta also completed the much anticipated first phase of the Alpha Loop. This multipurpose trail system will connect downtown Alpharetta to Avalon and eventually reach the office buildings along Haynes Bridge Road all the way to Northpoint Mall, linking to the beautiful Greenway system along Big Creek on the east side of Georgia 400. The first mile of the Alpha Loop connecting downtown to Avalon was completed during the quarantine and immediately became a powerful attraction for families and dog owners seeking some fresh air and sunshine as a break from sheltering in place.

Those are just a few of the wonderful achievements over the last few months. Other successes include a skate park opening at Alpharetta's Union Hill Park and Whole Foods donating a beautiful 100-foot covered pavilion behind Wills Park Community Center near Waggy World. There is a new neighborhood park on Windward Parkway and adaptive playgrounds, which accommodate children with special needs, in front of Alpharetta Elementary School and the Wills Park Recreation Center.

Though 2020 may be remembered as the year of the COVID-19 pandemic, Alpharetta has made great improvements this year, which we believe generations of residents will enjoy and remember for years to come.