Woodstock's community leaders broke ground on Fire Station 28 Monday evening, an event marking a stride forward in public safety for the city's swelling population. Situated at 1009 Ridgewalk Parkway, the new addition is expected to not only bolster response times but also broaden fire and emergency services coverage in one of the city's rapidly expanding districts, according to the City of Woodstock's recent announcement.
City Manager Jeff Moon welcomed those assembled for the groundbreaking, his words reflecting an awareness of the lengthy journey and anticipation, "It’s my pleasure to welcome you to the groundbreaking for Station 28, which is the third fire station for the City of Woodstock," and, with barely a breath between thoughts, he continued on to express eagerness for the yet-to-come fourth station. Woodstock Fire Chief Shane Dobson conveyed thanks to his team and partners like Croft & Associates and Spratlin Construction, who will be instrumental in driving the growth with both the new station and the upcoming one, elevating their capabilities in service to the citizens.
Reflecting on the city's transformation, Ward 1 Council Member Warren Johnson said, "When I moved here 25 years ago, we had about 6,800 residents and two fire stations. Today, we’ve got nearly 40,000 residents and we’re breaking ground on our third, with a fourth station coming soon," signifying the dramatic scale of change and development within Woodstock over the past decades. Meanwhile, Mayor Michael Caldwell underscored the significant impact of this development, "Welcome to a city that continually reinvests in itself, and today, we get to celebrate reinvestment in the outstanding men and women of Woodstock Fire Department," linking the city's progress directly to its commitment to its residents and first responders.
The station, set to be completed in 2026, is funded through SPLOST and will feature numerous facilities including three apparatus bays, living quarters for firefighters, and a space for their training, designed to serve a city that Caldwell reminds has an ISO rating of 1, placing it in the elite echelons, the top two percent of fire departments nationwide but still pushing forward, Caldwell believes such investments promise continuation of exceptional services for future generations.
