Freedom of Information Act reveals a Forsyth County request to obtain parks dated 2004

Through the use of the Freedom of Information Act, Forsyth County now has undeniable proof that in 2004 Forsyth County Parks and Rec. Director Jerry Kinsey made a request to obtain any undeveloped parks the Corps would lease to the county.

Click here to see the parks request, dated April 2004, from the County to the Corps
Start at the bottom and read up.

Click here to see the request, dated April 2005, from the Y

The Freedom of Information Act has exposed and further strengthens three very important facts:

1. There is no official document from the Corps that offered Bethel Park to Forsyth County.
2. Forsyth County made a request for parks from the Corp in 2004 which occurred a full year before the Y requested Bethel Park (The Y's request was made without county or public knowledge).
3. The law, Title 33, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 211.6(a)(2). This law clearly states the Corps MUST give preference of Corps property to Federal, State, or local governmental agencies first. In the case of Bethel Park, the Corps failed to do this.

This information was one of the highlights in a recent meeting between the County, Corps, and Y attorneys.

So what does all of this mean?

• It means that Forsyth County has first rights to Bethel Park.
• It means the Corps now realizes their mistake.
• It means the Y has little legal options to forcibly take Bethel Park away from the public.
• It means the Y coalition group and their shallow threats of submitting signed affidavits have been nullified.