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Forsyth County Proposal For Multi-Use Event Center In Tanglewood Park On Hold

The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners meeting on Thursday July 22, 2021. Screenshot: KERI BROWN/WFDD

Forsyth County Commissioners didn't take action on a proposal that would allow the county to hire a design firm to build a 50,000-square-foot events center at Tanglewood Park.

County officials say they've been receiving emails and other messages about the proposal from local residents. Many worry that the center would bring more noise, traffic and other issues. Some said they had no idea the project was being discussed in their neighborhood.

County leaders say they've looked at several sites and the Tanglewood location is a good fit. County Manager Dudley Watts says the new facility would focus on agriculture and equestrian events, and other activities.

"There are some fears out there around this thing. Would we ever do a Monster Truck show at the horse facility across from the Tanglewood barns? The answer is no. I like my job too much. Whatever we do we have to be consistent with that, with the surroundings there,” says Watts.

Forsyth County leaders are planning two public information sessions at the Red Barn at Tanglewood Park on Tuesday and Wednesday to share their preliminary plans and gather feedback.

Tanglewood is one of Forsyth County's largest tourist attractions and is home to the annual Festival of Lights.

*Follow WFDD's Keri Brown on Twitter @kerib_news

Keri Brown is a multi-award winning reporter and host at 88.5 WFDD. She has been honored with two regional Edward R. Murrow awards for her stories about coal ash, and was named the 2015 radio reporter of the year by the Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas (RTDNAC).Although she covers a variety of topics, her beats are environmental and education reporting.Keri comes to the Triad from West Virginia Public Broadcasting, where she served as the Chief Bureau Reporter for the Northern Panhandle. She produced stories for the state's Public Television and Radio programs and was honored by the West Virginia Associated Press Broadcasters Association for her feature and enterprise reporting.She also served as an adjunct instructor at Wheeling Jesuit University and Bethany College in West Virginia. She worked with the Center for Educational Technologies in Wheeling, WV, and other NASA centers across the country to develop several stories about the use of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts in the classroom.Keri's journalism career began at WTRF-TV 7 in Wheeling. She worked in several roles at the station, including the head assignment editor. She also was a field producer and assignment manager at WPGH-TV Fox 53 in Pittsburgh.Keri is a graduate of Ohio University. When she's not in the studio or working on a story, she enjoys watching college football with her family, cooking, and traveling.Keri is always looking for another great story idea, so please share them with her. You can follow her on Twitter @kerib_news.

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