Cornelia dedicates Donald Anderson Park

CORNELIA — City leaders, residents and community partners gathered Tuesday morning to celebrate the dedication of Donald Anderson Park, a new downtown green space officials say will serve generations to come.

The nearly 4-acre park transforms a once underused industrial site into a central gathering place, with plans already underway for a future amphitheater that leaders say will further establish the area as a destination.

Cornelia Mayor John Borrow opened the ceremony by thanking attendees and recognizing public officials in the crowd.

“We’ll talk a little more about who the park is named after and the reasons, but I want to extend our heartfelt appreciation to all of you for being here today and taking time out of your schedules,” Borrow said. “If there’s anybody here in public service — elected officials — we’ve got commissioners and city managers — can I get you all to raise your hand so we can give you a round of applause? We appreciate it.”

Borrow added that public service is often overlooked.

“I guarantee you all, it’s a thankless job. They’re underpaid. We appreciate your public service,” he said.

A park years in the making

City Manager Donald Anderson said the project came together through years of planning, persistence and problem-solving.

“I didn’t want to do another large project after the stress of building the water plant and City Hall at the same time about did me in,” Anderson said. “To be honest, I did not think building a park would be that big of a deal. Boy, was I wrong.”

The project faced multiple delays, including a federal historic preservation review that postponed initial work.

“We had hoped to begin cleaning up the property in August 2024, but it took several months to convince them we were not going to tear down the depot and the Big Red Apple,” Anderson said. “We did not get our notice to proceed until January 2025, and then the pressure was on because we had already scheduled our annual music festival here in May.”

Despite setbacks, the city pushed forward — even after heavy rain caused erosion issues just weeks before the park’s first major event.

“Anytime you get a message at 6:45 in the morning from one of your department heads, it is not good news,” Anderson said, recalling a text showing mud covering Clarkesville Street after a storm.

Contractors repaired the damage in time, and the park successfully hosted an event drawing several thousand people.

“A lot of people played a role in making this happen,” Anderson said.

Honoring a city manager

Borrow said naming the park after Anderson was a unanimous decision by city leaders — made without Anderson’s knowledge until later.

“When it comes to city projects, naming it after someone implies a great honor,” Borrow said. “We said, whose fingerprints are so strong on Cornelia?”

“We all unanimously said it’s Dee Anderson,” Borrow said.

Borrow credited Anderson with helping guide Cornelia through economic shifts and growth over nearly two decades.

“This is a chance for us to recognize the man whose influence has been so strong in Cornelia for nearly the past 20 years,” Borrow said. “His influence has helped create a downtown where people want to come.”

Borrow said the site was once largely unusable industrial property.

“This was effectively a train graveyard — railroad ties, tracks, big metal buildings,” he said. “We said, what could this be? A downtown park where people can walk, have picnics, and we could have music festivals, a summer concert series.”

Anderson, however, said he prefers to stay out of the spotlight.

“I would probably be more happy if no one ever knew my name,” Anderson said. “I prefer to be the unknown city manager that makes him look good,” Anderson told Now Georgia.

“I’m just one part of a team,” he said. “My employees are the ones that deserve the credit because they are the ones actually out doing the work.”

He said the recognition is humbling.

“If you’re a public servant and they name something after you, that probably means you did something right,” Anderson told Now Georgia. “It’s very humbling — kind of embarrassing, honestly.”

Built through partnerships

Borrow said grant funding and partnerships were essential to the project.

“One of the biggest strengths of Cornelia is awareness of the amount of grants that are out there — whether state, federal or nongovernmental,” Borrow told Now Georgia. “In this case, we applied for grants that would repurpose industrial property and create parks.”

He said the city received millions in funding.

“We applied for it, we received it, and we’re so grateful for it,” Borrow told Now Georgia.

Anderson said the idea for the park began during an early site visit with city leaders and railroad representatives.

“We just happened to walk on the property, and we were like, ‘Wow, this might make a good park,’” Anderson said. “It kind of rolled from there.”

A space for the community

Habersham County Chamber of Commerce President Candice Holcomb said the park will serve as a long-term community asset.

“This park represents more than just a beautiful space,” Holcomb said.

State Sen. Bo Hatchett said the project reflects strong collaboration.

“Projects like this don’t happen by accident,” Hatchett said.

Looking ahead

Borrow said the park will only become more significant once future phases are complete.

“Once we get the amphitheater, it’s going to become even more of a destination,” Borrow told Now Georgia. “It will be a social hub for Cornelia and hopefully even an economic hub.”

Anderson said the amphitheater project is already moving forward.

“We opened the bids Friday. We got four bids, and it’s on the agenda for tonight’s meeting,” Anderson said.

For now, city leaders say the park is already fulfilling its purpose.

“I think it’s popular because it’s just a park — a large green space,” Anderson said.