Some residents in Peachtree Corners plan to picket outside a meeting of North Georgia Confernce of the United Methodist Church in Athens tomorrow in an effort to preserve much-loved woodlands along the Chattahoochee known as Simpsonwood.
Ludie Simpson gave the 227 acres of her family's land to the conference in 1973 with the stipulation that it never be divided or developed other than a chapel dedicated to her mother and grandparents.
Over the years a retreat center was built and is now home to the conference which won the right to sell the land in April after a court challenge by surrounding homeowners.
The conference’s 2,800 delegates are expected to vote on the options of selling the land to Gwinnett County for a passive park or to a developer for more money.
The conference issued a statement earlier this year:
"The North Georgia Conference deeply appreciates the generous gift of property that Miss Ludie Simpson provided more than 40 years ago and we have proven our appreciation with good stewardship of this beautiful site.
However, the property has become underused in recent years and diverted more and more of our budget that could be better used for direct mission and ministry.
The Conference desires to keep the property intact, and will maintain the chapel and old chimney cherished by the Simpson family without reservation.
Decisions on the future of the property are being considered in a lengthy, prayerful and carefully researched process by representatives of the 900 United Methodist churches in north Georgia. Our aim is to serve the ministries of the church and also take into consideration the surrounding community.
A number of public entities have expressed interest in the property. If the Conference decides to sell Simpsonwood, our preference would be for that kind of entity to acquire it."
Commissioner Lynette Howard is hoping the county will get the opportunity to buy it.
“I hope that they can see the value of keeping this property the way Ludie Simpson wanted them to be in charge of it,” she says.
Neighbors plan to be outside the Classic Center in Athens where the delegates will meet hoping to convince them.
Laurie Slaff walks the trails daily on the property. She says it would be a loss for the entire community if the land is divided and developed.
“There’s a whole community of us out here that rely on this property, literally, for our wellbeing,” she tells WSB’s Sandra Parrish.
So far the church has said little about the offers.