Sparta Mayor Jerry Lowery said that the city has yet to reach a deal to purchase 120 acres of property near Winding Lane for a possible park
The city first expressed interest in purchasing the property over a year ago. Lowery said negotiations with the property owner have come to a standstill and that the city has not made any recent attempts to purchase the property.
“We’ve got to reach an agreement with the owners, and also we’ve decided that there are a couple of things that we need to get across the finish line,” Lowery said. “One being the splash pad before we jump into another big park project.”
Lowery said the city is still interested in purchasing the property in the future, as a good portion of the property has riverfront access.
“If we purchase that land, that would give us a lot of riverfront property that we could use for kayak docks and fishing areas, and try to make it a natural walking area,” Lowery said. “It would be a neat place for people to go and relax and have picnics, and do some kayaking as well.”
The city had received an estimated $650,000 Historic Preservation Grant to help the city purchase the property in 2024. The grant contract for the city to purchase the land has been extended till July 18, 2026.
