DeKalb County unveils Entrenchment Creek plan, approves ‘Michelle Obama Park’ name; residents press for more review

DeKalb County leaders on Tuesday presented a two‑phase plan to restore public access to Entrenchment Creek and deliver 114 acres of parkland, saying Phase 1 is funded and already under construction and that the county has approval to use the name Michelle Obama Park for the active portion of the site.

CEO Williams, who opened the town hall, said the county has worked with the community since 2019 to re‑imagine Entrenchment Creek and will deliver ‘‘a total of 114 acres’’ of welcoming public space. She told attendees the county will proceed with a low‑impact Entrenchment Creek portion and a separate Michelle Obama Park with more active amenities.

Christopher Bass, director of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs, said work began about two weeks earlier on the south portion of Phase 1 and described the main elements: an eight‑foot‑wide paved, ADA‑accessible trail to reconnect to the existing Michelle Obama trail, a resurfaced remote‑control airplane (RC) landing strip, restroom facilities and roughly 28 parking spaces. "We're going to bring this park to fruition," Bass said, and noted staff hope to open the trail to the public by Labor Day weekend if permitting and construction milestones are met.

Jacob Valow, the county's chief development officer, outlined funding and permitting. He said Phase 1 is fully funded and that the county recently accepted a $1.5 million allocation toward Michelle Obama Park; additional Phase 2 work will be funded from SPLOST and the county's capital budget across fiscal years 2027–2028. Valow added the project is in the permitting review cycle and staff submitted 100% construction documents earlier this year.

Why it matters: the master plan envisions a largely passive, nature‑focused Entrenchment Creek area and a separate, more active Michelle Obama Park with an inclusive playground, a splash pad, courts and a pavilion. The site had been closed to the public following prior land transfers and community members said long‑standing access and stewardship promises motivated demand for a prompt delivery.

Still, a number of residents urged caution and more outreach. Margaret Spalding, a longtime local resident, said earlier community outreach around a land swap felt like "we were forced... the swap," and warned that paving through the remaining forest would further harm the creek and wetlands. "I just feel that it's just not necessary to pave through that last little strip of remaining forest," Spalding said.

Other residents asked the county to protect named natural features: Amy Fields Taylor and others asked officials to avoid routing trails through the "grandmother tree" and memorial sites and suggested higher‑elevation routing or following the Millsap border as less intrusive alternatives.

Several speakers urged clearer naming. Robin Stewart, a long‑term resident, asked that the county consider naming the whole development Michelle Obama Park for continuity with the Michelle Obama trail; county leaders said they have approval to use the Michelle Obama Park name for the active portion and will be careful to label Entrenchment Creek as the nature‑focused area.

Safety and neighborhood impacts drew questions from nearby homeowners. Patrice Laflur, whose subdivision backs onto the park site, urged protections for adjacent yards and the value and safety of homes that abut the park. CEO Williams committed to a safety buffer and said the county will install a fence where needed, add park rangers, install call boxes and consider video surveillance before opening. "We will have a dedicated park ranger," Williams said, adding the county would coordinate a community engagement session for adjacent residents.

Residents also raised the issue of proposed data centers near the creek. Officials limited the town hall to park plans but noted the county currently has no approved data center applications for Entrenchment Creek; Williams acknowledged letters of intent exist but said that, to her knowledge, no formal approvals have been granted.

On next steps, staff said Phase 1 is already funded and under construction, the county expects permitting rounds to conclude in coming months and aims for a public opening tied to construction completion and the rescission of a prior executive order that temporarily closed the park. Valow said some Phase 2 funding will come from SPLOST and future capital allocations and that a land‑disturbance permit (LDP) is under review.

What remains unresolved: several residents and Commissioner Terry urged reopening or refreshing the Entrenchment Creek master plan to allow further community review focused on trail alignment, forest protections, memorial sites and long‑term stewardship, while others argued that delaying would prolong community disenfranchisement and that the cleared Michelle Obama Park portion should move forward now.

The county closed the meeting by inviting further correspondence and community engagement; officials said they will post updates through the county newsletter and schedule follow‑up meetings for neighbors and interested groups.