SR883: SR883 Roswell Arts Festival; celebrate 60th anniversary

26 LC 112 3757 Senate Resolution 883 By: Senators Albers of the 56th, Dickerson of the 21st, Still of the 48th, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd and McLaurin of the 14th A RESOLUTION Celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Roswell Arts Festival; and for other purposes.1 WHEREAS, the Roswell Arts Festival was founded 60 years ago by a group of civic-minded2 residents, becoming the first arts festival in North Fulton County and establishing a tradition3 of community-led cultural engagement that continues to this day; and4 WHEREAS, for six decades, the Roswell Arts Festival has been organized and operated by5 residents and volunteers, incl uding multiple gener ations of service, reflecting a deep and6 enduring commitment to the cultural, civic, and recreational life of the City of Roswell; and7 WHEREAS, the festival was created not only to celebrate art, music, and community but also8 to serve as an additional fundi ng source for public recreation and park improvements,9 ensuring that proceeds generated by the event are reinvested directly into the community; and10 WHEREAS, over its 60-year history, the Roswell Arts Festival ha s contributed more than11 $1 million toward the development, expansion, and enhancement of Roswell's public parks,12 recreational facilities, cultural assets, and community spaces; and13 S. R. 883 - 1 - 26 LC 112 3757 WHEREAS, festival proceeds have supported foundational investme nts in Roswell's14 recreation system, including the installation of athletic field lighting at Woodstock Park,15 funding a portion of the City's first recreation director salary, and contributing to Roswell's16 first Recreation and Parks Master Plan; and17 WHEREAS, the Roswell Arts Festival has played a significant rol e in the creation,18 expansion, and improvement of major parks, including Roswell Ar ea Park, East Roswell19 Park, Don White Park, Grimes Bridge Park, Old Mill Park, Groveway Park, Riverside Park,20 Chattahoochee River Park, and Mill Park; and21 WHEREAS, festival funding has helped acquire and preserve criti cal parkland, including22 contributions toward the purchase of 63 acres and an additional 9.37 acres for Roswell Area23 Park, the acquisition of property for Grimes Bridge Park, and t he preservation of 38 acres24 along the Chattahoochee River through the Trust for Public Land; and25 WHEREAS, the festival has funded or supported athletic and recr eational facilities26 throughout Roswell, including ball fields, athletic fields, the Roswell Area Park Athletic27 Field, the Roswell High School athletic field, adaptive fields, outdoor fitness equipment,28 swimming and therapeutic pools, spraygrounds, playgrounds, shad e structures, and29 equipment for recreation centers; and30 WHEREAS, the Roswell Arts Festival has made substantial investments in community and31 cultural facilities, including contributions to the Visual Arts Center and its expansion, Arts32 Center West improvements such as blacksmith facilities and a tr ain kiln, furnishings and33 equipment for the Community Activity Building and Adult Recreation Center, and updates34 to the Recreation and Parks Master Plan; and35 S. R. 883 - 2 - 26 LC 112 3757 WHEREAS, festival proceeds have supported community gathering s paces and special36 projects, including renovations at Town Square, the Vickery Creek Dam, Serenity Garden,37 Leita Thompson Memorial Garden, trail systems, and site planning for Old Mill Park; and38 WHEREAS, the Roswell Arts Festival stands as a model of how res ident leadership,39 volunteerism, and cultural programming can produce lasting publ ic benefit, strengthening40 community identity while delivering tangible improvements enjoy ed by generations of41 Roswell residents.42 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body43 celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Roswell Arts Festival in honor of its immense and44 enduring impact on the City of Roswell as well as extend best wishes for continued success.45 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed46 to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the public and the47 press.48 S. R. 883 - 3 -