Alpharetta has broken ground on a new skate park at Union Hill Park, a $3.52 million project born from local skaters' push for a dedicated place to ride.

The skate park is expected to open in May 2027, according to the city's Recreation, Parks and Cultural Services Department. Patch first reported the construction start on Tuesday, Oct. 13.

The project traces back to 2020, when skaters asked the city for a dedicated space. Union Hill Park, a 13-acre site at 1590 Little Pine Trail, has been Alpharetta's only designated skating area since the city built it in 1995. Skating is not allowed in downtown Alpharetta, making the park the sole legal option for riders.

The renovation is funded by the $29.5 million parks bond Alpharetta voters approved in 2021. Rising costs after the pandemic threatened to shrink what the bond could deliver. To stretch those dollars, the City Council unanimously approved a contract on July 28, 2025, with Georgia-based Integrated Construction and Nobility. The deal bundled remaining bond work at Union Hill, Old Rucker Park, Wills Park and the Wills Park Equestrian Center, Appen Media reported. The consolidation identified about $900,000 in savings.

"Prices went up and the bond dollars stayed the same," Councilmember John Hipes, the city's parks liaison, said at the July 28, 2025, council meeting.

Morgan Rodgers, the city's director of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Services, told the council at that same meeting that the projects reflect what residents requested. Beyond the skate park, Union Hill improvements include a themed playground, expanded parking, landscaping and stormwater upgrades.

The city surveyed 107 residents during the design phase. Respondents flagged play areas for children of different ages and keeping the skate park as top priorities, according to Appen Media's earlier reporting.

The existing skate area is closed during construction. It will be repurposed as part of the renovation, though the city has not disclosed what will replace it.

Union Hill Park sits along the Big Creek Greenway. The skate park is among the last projects funded by the 2021 bond, with completion targeted for May 2027.

Upcoming community events:

  • Nov. 1: Alpharetta Women's Half Marathon at Avalon