Spaces
Lockridge Forest: A Woodland Filled with Friends
A neighborhood like Lockridge Forest really does feel enchanted thanks to the neighbors and community members. With over 450 homes and a nine-acre Swimming & Tennis Club, some residents have enjoyed the perks of living this community for almost 50 years.
Phil Sadd explained how it felt when he first moved to Lockridge Forest Community in 1991. “It really was like living in a forest — it still is.”
Animals such as deer, owls, beavers, hawks and cranes (oh, my!) can still be spotted in your own backyard if you hail from this area of Peachtree Corners. But even more than the scenery, Sadd said he loves the sense of community. That’s why he became a City Councilmember in 2012, just after the city was incorporated.
Working together to improve
Lockridge Forest sits right on the Dunwoody and Gwinnett county lines, and it’s centrally located to over 50 businesses, schools, churches and temples. “Being right at the edge, I was worried we wouldn’t get as much attention, so I wanted to make sure this community had a voice,” Sadd explained. “I wanted to make an impact.”
And he did. When he first moved into Lockridge Forest, there were no sidewalks, curbs or gutters. Mothers with strollers or families with small children would walk on dirt paths. Sadd has spent years setting up and maintaining amenities along Spalding Drive and Winters Chapel Road.
“The City Council has been extremely helpful with this and supported us through this process,” he said, adding that they even had the opportunity to partner with the City of Dunwoody, because a portion of Winters Chapel Road rests in their territory. “Dunwoody has been a great government partner to work with over the years,” he added.
When Sadd isn’t working on improving the community, he is enjoying the perks of living there. It’s the closest neighborhood in Peachtree Corners to I-285, so many residents enjoy shorter commutes. Some of the neighbors are so close, they even vacation together! Not to mention the many events put on by the Civic Association at the Swimming & Tennis Club, such as annual Easter Egg Hunts and Halloween Parades, as well as senior lunches, pig roasts and chili cookoffs.
Residents like Ron Walsh see to it that Lockridge Forest remains a desirable location to live or even staycation. “When we first moved to Peachtree Corners, my friends told me: You’re moving to the boonies, no one will visit you out there,” he said. “But now it has become a desirable place to visit.”
Swim & Tennis Club
Walsh has been involved in the Swim & Tennis Club for the past 30 years; at times he has been president and now he serves as Treasurer. The club first opened in 1971 when 22 members of the Lockridge Community put their own money on the line to build the pool. After a tornado came through in 1998 and ripped through the forests and club, one citizen offered a private loan to have the pool redone — with no interest. It really was a labor of love.
“It’s a park-like atmosphere,” Walsh said. “There’s a creek winding through it and when the trees are blooming and you can’t hear any traffic, it feels like you really are in a forest.”
Well sign us up! Actually, you can sign up for membership to this gem of a club because they accept families from any neighborhood, not just Lockridge Forest.
“We collect membership dues in April and May, and last year we weren’t even sure if we would be able to remain open,” Walsh said. But thanks to some hard work, the Swim & Tennis Club was able to put CDC protocols in place that allowed them to remain open to families.
In fact, last year they had the largest membership to date. After the challenges of 2020, it’s no surprise that families are valuing quality outdoor time.
Walsh talked about the importance of having places like the Swim and Tennis club available to the community. “The problem with technology overload is that we’re not giving ourselves the challenge to be bored, to be thinkers and writers and to just have the time to create,” he said.
With community members like Walsh and Sadd, it’s easy to be excited about the world returning to normal and watching Peachtree Corners continue to thrive even while going through some transitions. They both agree that residents of Lockridge Forest, who come from all walks of life, are good neighbors who feel more like family.
On Friday, May 10, 2024, the City of Peachtree Corners held a ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony of its new space-themed Tot Lot Playground on Town Green.
Last November, the city began constructing a new tot lot playground for children under six years old that is themed around space exploration. This new play area includes a rocket ship, a moon rover, a crashed UFO and other fun designs. It was also created to be fully accessible, ensuring all children can enjoy it.
During the ribbon-cutting, children and their guardians enjoyed fun activities, including an ice cream truck, bubble lady, balloon animals, face painting and even a visit from Buzz Lightyear.
When Peachtree Corners City Councilman Alex Wright last had a dog, he was only a kid.
Young Alex was devastated when he died and did not want to get another dog because he did not want to endure that trauma again.
As a result, his family has never had a dog, and even though the two youngest of his four children badgered him and his wife endlessly, they always said no.
Then COVID-19 hit. The Wrights’ youngest son, Michael, was committed to convincing his parents to get a dog. He even did a PowerPoint presentation (with music) explaining why he absolutely needed a dog.
“I guess it was from being cooped up during Covid that my wife suggested maybe we should give in. Next thing I know we tell the kids we are going to get a dog,” Councilman Wright wrote in an email.
So, in June 2021, they got their first dog, Murphy, an Australian Labradoodle.
“All of a sudden, we discover this whole dog subculture that we had not really paid attention to before. All the things dogs liked to do, all the stuff you could buy them, all the people we met through walking the dog,” he explained.
In February, Wright and his wife were at Avalon returning a purchase when they came upon a modest-sized dog park. Wright’s wife suggested having something like that at Town Green would be great.
Dog Park Ribbon Cutting photos by George Hunter
“Later that day, I texted the City Manager [Brian Johnson] about the idea, and he really liked it. At the time, the playground (the one that opened in August 2022) was under construction, and we were already discussing other ideas to create activation at the Town Center, so this fit right into that plan,” said Wright.
The assistant City Manager, Seth Yurman, was tasked with the nuts and bolts and worked with a contractor on location and design.
“Can’t say enough about what a great job Seth did. We have definitely had some supply chain delays, which resulted in an opening maybe 9 to 12 months later than originally hoped for, but it is finally open,” he added.
Dog Park Ribbon Cutting photos by George Hunter
A couple more things are still left to do for the project, including installing a large sail cover over the stone entrance area. Construction of the Bone Bar is also on the agenda. This small bar will serve adult and non-adult beverages and likely…you guessed it? Treats for dogs.
The new dog park is situated behind the CineBistro building near the Town Green. The Peachtree Corners Off-Leash Dog Park is approximately 9,000 square feet and is divided into sections for smaller and larger dogs, with natural and artificial turf areas.
Dog Park Ribbon Cutting photos by George Hunter
PTC Dog Park Rules
- The dog park is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- The dog park is CLOSED for maintenance every Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.
- Use of the dog park is at your own risk. You are responsible for your dog and any injuries or damage caused by your dog.
- All children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
- All dogs must wear a collar with a valid license and have current vaccinations required by law.
- Please call 911 for all emergencies.
- The small dog area is for dogs 30 pounds and under. Dogs over 30 pounds must use the large dog area.
- Dogs must stay on a leash until they are in the fenced-in areas of the dog park and must be off-leash while in the dog park.
- Professional dog trainers may not use the dog park to conduct business.
- No person shall bring more than three dogs at one time.
- Please dispose of your dog’s waste in the receptacles provided. Remind others to do the same.
- Dogs must always be under the control and supervision of their handler.
- If your dog becomes aggressive, please leash the dog and exit the park immediately.
- Gates must be closed after entrance and exit.
- Dogs under six months old and female dogs in heat are not permitted.
- Food (human and dog) and glass containers are not permitted, as are smoking, vaping and drug use.
- Cats and other animals are not permitted.
- Bikes, scooters, skateboards and motorized equipment are not permitted.
- Violation of these rules may result in a ban from the dog park.
To honor and remember Debbie Mason, the first and only first lady of Peachtree Corners, who passed away after a long battle with cancer, a memorial park is being built.
A Peachtree Corners Arts Council subcommittee was formed to plan, develop and execute the park. Debbie Mason Memorial Park committee members include Lynette Howard, Robyn Unger, Bob Ballagh, Dave Huffman, Gay Shook, Sarah Roberts and Pat Bruschini.
“Lynette Howard led us in some brainstorming and creative sessions about what the garden should look like,” said Bruschini. “We had pictures of her backyard. Some of us had been to her backyard. It took a couple of months until we got a handle and feel for what we wanted the garden to be and what we thought [Mason] would want.”
One unique feature will be a Yorkie statue, Mason’s favorite dog, perched on top of a coffee table-like boulder encircled by granite benches. The brochure for the fundraising campaign will feature a photo of Mason and her beloved pet.
After looking at a few possible locations, a tract of land near the city’s botanical garden was chosen.
“The area where the park is going had been semi-developed,” said Buschini. “If you’re standing on the sidewalk with your back to the new dog park or your back to Cinebistro, you’ll see a granite semi-circle wall and steps that come down from Peachtree Corners Circle. We are enhancing that area.”
Everyone involved wanted the park to be near Town Center and accessible to everyone. So, an offshoot of the botanical garden, a property owned by the Downtown Development Authority, made the most sense, Bruschini added.
The park will be connected to Town Center with one entrance off Peachtree Corners Circle across from Davini Court.
“We have a complete plot plan designed by a landscape architect from Pike Nursery. Jennifer Freeman, a Duluth mosaic artist, created a mosaic design of the city logo,” said Bruschini.
The Debbie Mason Memorial Garden will be the city’s first park. Although there are other parks within city limits, this is the only one that will be owned and maintained by the city.
To improve its access, the city is working with the Solis Apartment Complex being built nearby.
The plan is to have an extensive sidewalk connecting to the park. Construction of the park is underway and plant material will go in this fall. There will be a ribbon cutting and dedication shortly after that.
But for now, the committee wants everyone to know that it’s coming and contributions are welcome. Find the wish list for the Debbie Mason Memorial Garden at the end of this article.
The memorial is fitting because Mason really was Peachtree Corners, said Bruschini.
“She was a volunteer extraordinaire,” she said. I met her on the board of the United Peachtree Corners Civic Association, and she headed up the Peachtree Parkway Improvement Project for six years. That’s where she would contact all the businesses along 141 and ask them to make a contribution so that the median strip could be maintained.”
Mason also co-founded the beloved Peachtree Corners Festival alongside Dave Huffman.
In 2008, there was a tour of homes in Peachtree Corners, and the funds raised went to solar lights to light up the sign going into Peachtree Corners. Mason was front and center with that. But she always had time for family, Bruschini said.
“Her son Nick was in drama at Norcross High School, and she was very involved in that. And she worked with the taste of Norcross High School going back, I’ll say, 20 years maybe,” she said.
“She and Mike started the Fox Hill Homeowners Association and she worked with the Peachtree Corners Yes campaign and served on the board of Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful as well as the City Arts Council and also the first City Green committee. This is fitting because she always wanted to make memories in Peachtree Corners,” she explained.
Garden Sponsorship Items
- Mosaic Logo – $10,000
- Mosaic River – (3) $5,000 each
- Bronze Plaque – $3,000
- Arbor – (3) $1,000 each
- Japanese Maple – $800
- Flowerpots full of color – (3) $500 each
- Dogwoods (3) $500 each
- Tea Olives – (6) $400 each
- Yorkie Dog Statue – $300
- Azalea/Hydrangeas (40) – $60 each
Garden Sponsorship Levels
- $1000: Platinum
- $500: Gold
- $250: Silver
- $100: Bronze
- $50: Friends of the Garden
Ways to Donate
Checks are preferred and are payable to:
Peachtree Corners Arts, Inc. Attn: DMMC
PO Box 922469
Peachtree Corners, GA 30092
PTCArts.org/donate
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