Founders Park: Connecting Roswell’s History and Community

The City of Roswell is advancing an ambitious vision to connect many of Roswell’s beloved historic assets into a unified experience of community, history, and celebration. Founders Park is a multi-phase initiative to connect a contiguous stretch of green space linking several landmark sites—Bulloch Hall, Mimosa Hall, Holly Hill, Historic Town Square Park, and Barrington Hall—into a continuous, walkable, and event-ready public space.

“Founders Park will deliver a new era of community-focused public space while honoring the City’s architectural and cultural heritage,” said Mayor Kurt Wilson. “As Mayor and Council continue to prioritize thoughtful investment in Roswell’s cultural and civic spaces, the Founders Park vision underscores the City’s commitment to creating places where history and community come together in meaningful, memorable ways.”

Founders Park brings together preservation, accessibility, and community use. Previous projects completed as part of the Founders Park vision have included renovations to Historic Town Square (finished in spring 2024) and upgrades to Mimosa Hall’s first floor, second floor, and driveway (completed in December 2024).

But at the heart of the Founders Park vision is the creation of a new event lawn and support facilities on the grounds of Mimosa Hall, which will serve as the central hub for special events, including concerts, reunions, weddings, and other events.

A focal point of this sweeping initiative is the redevelopment of the grounds of Mimosa Hall, where construction is currently underway to create a central hub for Founders Park: a stunning new event lawn and supporting facility. The goal is to provide a flexible, beautiful gathering space for weddings, concerts, reunions, and community events—while carefully preserving the historic charm that defines the site.

Key features include:

-A central event lawn with capacity for up to 250 guests under a tented canopy.
-A new support building with restrooms for event guests and a catering kitchen.
-Redesigned parking and service areas for seamless guest, vendor, and emergency access.
-ADA-accessible walkways and trail connections that improve site navigation and inclusion.
-Enhancements to the front drive, which will include crushed granite sidewalks on either side of the iconic stone walkway, improving walkability while maintaining the historic appearance and footprint.
-Restoration of the early 20th century fieldstone dais and stairs within the new event lawn and historic garden spaces.
-Historic-style lighting and landscaping enhancements, blending tradition and modern utility, and enhancing space utilization and aesthetic.
-The original Neel Reid reflecting pool, adjacent to the event lawn, will be repaired and restored as a true water feature with circulation. Landscaping will enhance this unique feature.
-Of significant note is that the project includes the restoration of the iconic stone dais and grand staircases on the property that date back to the 1930s.

“This a careful and deliberate transformation and restoration project,” said Jeff Leatherman, Deputy City Administrator and Senior VP for Community Service and Recreation & Parks. “We’re bringing 2025 into this space while preserving the historic aspects of the property. This project was developed with input from cultural professionals and shared with the State Historic Preservation Office—everything has been done with careful consideration.”

From its landscape layout to its vendor accessibility, every element of the design prioritizes both function and heritage. Walkways and green space have been planned to support flexible event configurations, including potential festival-style layouts, while safeguarding the site’s historic charm.

The Mimosa Hall event space is scheduled for completion in early summer 2026. The City of Roswell is already accepting reservations for August 2026 and beyond, with early booking incentives available while construction is underway. Contact our venue sales specialist for more information.

The Mimosa Hall event space project is expected to cost approximately $5.7 million and is fully funded by American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars, which are authorized for use on community infrastructure and improvements.

The current project represents the third major investment in the Founders Park initiative, which as previously mentioned, also includes completed renovations to Historic Town Square (Finished in spring 2024. Cost: $582K covered in FY2023 City Budget) and upgrades to Mimosa Hall’s first floor, second floor, and driveway (Completed in December 2024. Cost: $1.1 mil covered by ARPA funding.).

Why Some Tree Removal Was Necessary

As part of the ongoing improvements at Founders Park, the City of Roswell is carefully balancing historic preservation, environmental stewardship, and accessibility. Understandably, some community members have expressed concern about tree removal on the site, and we want to make sure our community has full information:

-Trees were removed only where necessary—mainly in areas designated for the stormwater basin and parking access.
-Removal took place on a limited 4.18-acre portion of the site, which totals 22.7 acres.
-The removal focused on invasive and non-native plants like bamboo, privet, and ivy, as well as trees identified for removal through formal review.
-All decisions were based on approved construction plans and were reviewed by the Historic Preservation Commission.
-In total, 35 specimen trees were removed. These removals are critical to allow for the installation of the new infrastructure and to support the implementation of a native plant restoration plan.
-Each tree that was removed was carefully evaluated and deemed necessary to complete key components of the project.
-As part of the restoration plan, twelve new native trees will be planted, and the site will feature native plants to improve the long-term ecological health of the area.
-While most of the tree removal on site is focused on invasive species and necessary infrastructure areas, we know that the potential removal of a black walnut tree on the site is especially sensitive.
-Update as of June 20: The City of Roswell is pleased to share that three significant specimen trees have been preserved as part of the Mimosa Hall construction project. -During an initial site walkthrough with the construction contractor in early June, City officials identified a number of specimen trees as potential candidates for preservation. After a more detailed inspection and reworking of the design plans, the City confirmed with project and construction teams that they are able to preserve two black walnut trees and one tulip poplar.
-One of the preserved black walnut trees—Tree #1691—has been at the center of strong community interest and advocacy. We are happy to announce that this tree, along with the two others, will remain in place and become an integral part of the landscape at the new outdoor event facility.

Roswell has been designated as a “Tree City USA Community” for 30+ years, reflecting our long-standing commitment to urban forestry and environmental care. In addition, the City has established several tree-related ordinances and development regulations, implemented a Tree Planting program, and a “No Net Loss of Trees” policy. Every decision made at Mimosa Hall is part of a larger plan to enhance our green spaces, promote native plantings, and make our historic treasures more inclusive and welcoming for generations to come.

Community Input and Oversight
The design of the Founders Park improvements reflects input from residents, local stakeholders, and boards including:

A March 2024 design charrette
Feedback from the Roswell Recreation Commission
Reviews by the Historic Preservation Commission
Approval by Roswell’s Mayor and City Council

While there was not a separate public comment period for each project phase, community voices helped shape the overall vision.

To learn more, please watch the video below or visit https://roswellconnections.com...