The city of Valdosta recently experienced Christmas in spring after receiving a donation of 52.85 acres of land near Freedom Park. The recent donation by two landowners is making way for future expanded outdoor recreational opportunities at Freedom Park.

Mike Gung donated the 38.85 acre parcel, appraised at $400,000, to include a pond that will be improved and enlarged for recreation. The property is located southwest of the city’s Water Plant and Freedom Park Complex, east of Bemiss Road.

The city and Mr. Gung have been negotiating the details of the donation for the past 18 months.

The Ambling Company also donated approximately 14 acres, appraised at $48,000, to the city adjacent to the Gung property. These tracts will be combined with the Freedom Park and Water Treatment Plant properties to give the city land for future expansion.

“We appreciate Mr. Gung’s and Ambling’s generous donations to the city of Valdosta and our community,” said City Manager Larry Hanson. “We look forward to incorporating this property into the next phase of development at Freedom Park and to utilize it for future water plant expansions, further enhancing the quality of life for our citizens. Walking trails and public fishing opportunities are two ways the citizens will benefit from the donations.”

Hanson said that the city plans to install docks and possibly rent some non-motorized boats.

“Two hundred-fifty acres of the 280 is Freedom Park and the remaining 30 is the Water Plant. With this additional land, we will expand the water plant’s acreage to 45 acres and the property will have all the land it will need for future uses. We are preparing to go to bid on the park,” said Hanson.

The city of Valdosta also acquired the former Hulstein-Taylor Tire Company building, located at 1714 N. Ashley Street Monday. The property, appraised at $250,000, was purchased by the city for $225,000.

The recently purchased property will provide future expansion opportunities and support of the upcoming city-county crime lab facility, which is located adjacent to the property. Construction is scheduled to begin in the next 30 days on the crime lab facility.

“The purchase of this property reflects the city’s ongoing effort to carefully acquire properties that will support the city’s strategic goals while being good stewards of tax payers’ dollars,” said Hanson.

“The joint city-county crime lab is a great example of cooperation between our agencies. The sharing of resources and expensive equipment will improve service and save our taxpayers the cost of duplication. While our law enforcement personnel have worked and do work well together, having these particular staff located together will further enhance cooperation. Crime does not respect jurisdictional boundaries and the fact that our personnel will share not only equipment and resources, but information as well, means that citizens win and the bad guys lose.”

“As a result of its former use as an automobile service center, the newly acquired facilities are equipped with vehicle lifts and workstations necessary to process vehicles that were used to commit crimes or that were involved in serious traffic accidents or violations,” said Valdosta Police Chief Frank Simons. “This property will be of tremendous use in facilitating criminal and traffic investigations in our area.”

The crime lab, which is being renovated by architect Steve Hart with Ellis Ricket and Associates, will house evidence receiving and storage and crime lab functions including an indoor firearms range, a ballistics lab with a ballistic water tank, a latent print lab, a trace evidence lab, and a narcotics lab on the first floor while the second floor will house the offices for staff.

The city worked with the former owner and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division to ensure any potential environmental issues were cleared up prior to acquiring the property.