Government

Don Carter State Park will be Lake Lanier's second state park and construction will start next year. That's according to a report in today's AJC that say despite budget cutbacks the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is going ahead with the park on the north end of Lake Lanier.

DNR has owned the land for 15 years and last year Governor Sonny Perdue set aside $14 million to design and build the park.

The park will feature camping, cottages with lake views, a boat dock, boat ramps, a swimming beach, hiking and horse trails and picnic areas.

Income from the 20 cottages should eventually help the park make a small profit. Two similar lake-based parks with cottages – Richard B. Russell and Tugaloo – make profits of $60,000 and $23,000 a year, respectively.

The state will select a contractor for Don Carter State Park in November, and construction should begin early next year.