Norcross Is...

Improving Parks and Preserving Trees

Norcross maintains several parks including Rossie Brundage Park, Thrasher Park, South Point Park, Barton Street Greenspace, and Ficling Property Greenspace.  The City conducts ongoing maintenance activities at all parks and will make major improvements to several of them this year.  Renovations planned for Thrasher Park Include adding restrooms, expanding the playground, enhancing landscaping, replacing sidewalks, and adding a new children's pavilion with tables and benches.  In Betty Mauldin Park, adjacent to City Hall, there will be new masonry work around the historic bell, new sod, and enhanced landscaping.  The shaded park in front of the Community Center will be transformed into a romantic wedding garden complete with decorative stone inlay, new concrete steps, and improvements to the handicapped access path. 

One enduring feature that all of our City parks have in common is the canopy of trees that adorns each.  One of these trees, the massive "American Elm" in Betty MauldinPark, is a celebrity of sorts.  The towering arborous landmark, which stands 79 feet with a spread of 105 feet, is the second tallest of its kind in Georgia, and is more than 100 years old.   The tree is rare for another reason - most of its species died out decades ago from a disease.  Because of the tree's distinctive status, it was adopted by Downey Trees, a local tree company, which provides care and maintenance services at no expense to the City in order to help the beautiful elm continue to thrive.

Our elm tree has become more notable since it was featured on the cover of Norcross' Historic Tree Walk booklet.  This publication is the culmination of a 2008 inventory of every tree in the City of Norcross.  Consultants performed a study that found 1,123 trees in the city limits and scores of different species.  They produced the illustrated booklet, which includes facts on trees in various areas of downtown Norcross.  City leaders hope to engage people in taking walking tree tours throughout various parks and downtown areas.