(MAY 5, 2025) — The first true recreation area ever and the first park to open in Cherokee County in seven years is now open for public use. Long Swamp Creek Recreation Area opened Friday, May 2 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Long Swamp Creek Recreation Area is the first park of its kind in Cherokee County to include passive activities with a focus on passive recreation and historic preservation.
The recreation area is located at 2015 Ball Ground Road and sits on land where Long Swamp Creek meets the Etowah River.
“We’re here to celebrate the ribbon cutting of our first recreation area park in Cherokee County,” said Recreation and Parks Director Jay Worley. “What I mean by that is we’ve got lots of parks, lots of ball fields, lots of playgrounds, lots of different things, but this is the first dedicated recreation area in Cherokee County. This is a haven for outdoor recreation, passive recreation so we’re proud of that.”
“The Parks and Recreation department has done an excellent job with this,” said District 1 Commissioner Steve West, who represents the area. “I think generations to come will enjoy it.”
The recreation area park features an archery range, short walking trails, three primitive campsites, restrooms with showers, and a kayak launch. It features opportunities for residents to fish, view wildlife and trail walk.
The existing home on the site has been refurbished and serves as staff offices and equipment storage. Plans for the building in phase two include a complete renovation to add an educational center, a place to rent or purchase equipment, more primitive campsites and additional restrooms. Phase two also includes plans for Native American Interpretive and Educational Signage, opens lawns and picnic tables at the park.
Cherokee County purchased the property in September 2019 for about $600,000 using Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax funding from the Wilson family. Members of the Wilson family attended the May 2 ribbon cutting ceremony.
The land was included in the Northeast Cherokee Parks Master Plan developed in 2022 by TSW. Through the planning process, Cherokee County and TSW held several public input meetings, consulted with historians, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and historical documents, including the Wauchope 1966 and Edwards-Pittman 2012 archeology studies. Using documents developed through the planning, the county applied for a grant through the Department of Natural Resources and secured $600,000 for the project.
In July 2024, the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners engaged Magnum Construction with a $2.1 million contract to construct the park, which took about nine months to complete.
