Forsyth County proposes Tobaccoville site for new event center

Forsyth County is asking the public to weigh on a proposed site in Tobaccoville for a multiuse agricultural event center.

County officials have selected a Rolling Hills property in Tobaccoville as the potential site for the project.

In 2016, voters approved a bond referendum that included $5 million for a county agricultural multiuse event center. But a proposal to build the center in Tanglewood Park near Clemmons met with strong opposition.

Officials are now seeking public input on the new proposed site that would cover about 190 acres of county-owned land in Tobaccoville. The project is anticipated to include a pre-engineered building, areas for outdoor recreation, parking, road improvements, related site development and landscaping.

Deputy County Manager Damon Sanders-Pratt says there are a number of reasons why this location is ideal.

"It's in a part of the county that doesn't have a lot of recreational opportunities, with the belt parkway in development, there will be better access to this location, as well as the access off of Doral Drive, and so this would allow us to preserve some land in the county for recreational purposes," says Sanders-Pratt. 

Public information sessions will be held on Tuesday, March 15, and Wednesday, March 30 at the Tobaccoville Community Center.

An online survey will also be posted.