Forsyth looking to complete years-long projects in 2024
Forsyth Mayor Eric Wilson says a focus on infrastructure, economic and community development will accommodate for future growth in the city.
FORSYTH, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Improvements are coming to Forsyth in 2024 as city leadership builds on long term efforts and successes from previous years.
Last year, the City of Forsyth celebrated the 200th anniversary of its founding. Now, city leadership is looking to wrap up improvements that have been in the works over the past several years.
Forsyth Mayor Eric Wilson says a focus on infrastructure, economic and community development will accommodate for future growth in the city.
“So we’re seeing new subdivisions being developed in the city,” Wilson said. “We’re seeing commercial growth in the city, economic development related to commercial growth. And we need to maintain our our community all while we’re doing that.”
One of the biggest projects is a $30 million upgrade to the city’s water and sewer infrastructure from a combination USDA grant/loan.
Currently, the city has the capacity to process three million gallons of water a day. Once upgrades are complete, the capacity will increase by another one million gallons.
According to Mayor Wilson, an overhaul of the decades-old water and sewage treatment plants will increase efficiency and benefit the city for years to come.
“We’ve been in the engineering phase and working on that project ever since, so it’ll be coming to fruition pretty soon,” he said. “But you know, it takes a lot of ground work to get something.”
Another project is the expansion of city parks to bring more recreation and community activities like Pickleball and a proposed amphitheater.
Mayor Wilson says the city has already hired a contractor to move forward with plans on the park project but hopes to hear input from residents and newly elected council members.
“I think it’s important to get that buy in and get everybody to coalesce around some ideas, and then it gives us kind of our blueprint for the next year or the next few years,” Wilson explained.
Other improvements coming to the city include six new officers at the Forsyth Police Department and additional fire stations to bolster public safety.
With plans to promote industrial growth and an uptick in commercial interest for the city’s downtown, Mayor Wilson says more jobs coming to Forsyth can provide more opportunities for its residents to live and work locally.
“We’re a small town and we have a unique community here of people who care about each other and work together,” he said.
Mayor Wilson says the city will have a planning session later this month to build relationships among new council members and set goals for Forsyth going forward.
