Board approves Discovery Park construction, adopts comprehensive transportation plan and more 

(Lawrenceville, Ga., April. 22, 2024) – The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners acted on several initiatives during their April 16 meeting. A recap of what they approved follows.

Discovery Park construction starts soon

Discovery Park will become the 53^rd park in the County’s parks system following award of a $28.5 million contract to Vertical Earth, Inc. Located on nearly 45 acres at the intersection of Old Norcross and Lawrenceville-Suwanee roads, the SPLOST-funded park will have a multipurpose synthetic turf field, interactive fountain, playground, sports court complex and 1.5-mile lighted and paved multipurpose trail. Construction is expected to take 24 months.

Summer meals program returns

The County’s summer meal program will be offered weekdays beginning May 28 at 20 county locations from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Shelf-stable breakfasts and lunches will be available for pickup for school-aged children and residents over 19 who have disabilities and are enrolled in school programs. The program has provided more than 1 million meals since 2019, helping to improve access to nutritious food and close the summer meal gap. The $381,000 contract awarded to JA Food Service Corporation to supply the meals is funded by American Rescue Plan Act.

West Gwinnett Park Aquatic Center upgrade makes waves

Renovations on the West Gwinnett Park Aquatic Center’s three pools will begin at the end of summer. Smith Aquatics, Inc., will replaster and re-tile the outdoor leisure pool and two indoor pools under a $335,900 contract approved by the Board. The aquatic center located at Peachtree Industrial Boulevard and South Berkeley Lake Road opened in March 2008 and attracts more than 110,000 visitors each year.  

License plate readers help deter crime

Gwinnett will acquire automated license plate reader cameras through a five-year, $1.8 million contract awarded to Flock Group, Inc. Flock Safety provides cameras to private businesses, community improvement districts and other government entities throughout the county. These groups grant access to local police departments to view and use information to help safeguard the community and deter crime. Gwinnett Police now operates 124 cameras – up from four at the program’s 2020 launch – and is slated to purchase 19 additional cameras this year.

Real-time traffic technology benefits drivers

Gwinnett’s real-time traffic management system will expand along State Route 20 from Ozora Road to Brand Road. This system allows staff in the traffic control center to monitor traffic, adjust signal timings and detect items that need repair without having to travel to the location of the signal. Commissioners awarded a $924,404 contract to Williams Power & Signal to install fiber and cameras along the corridor The Georgia Department of Transportation is using federal funds to pay for 80 percent of the contract, with the County’s 20 percent share coming from SPLOST.

Comprehensive Transportation Plan looks to future

Commissioners adopted the Destination 2050 Comprehensive Transportation Plan that lays out a series of short-, medium- and long-term projects to make travel safer, accommodate all modes of transportation and ensure intersections and roads accommodate Gwinnett’s future growth. The plan is a result of efforts by Gwinnett officials, staff and consultants and was developed with community input. Adoption of this plan guarantees projects will be eligible for state and federal grants.