Aerial view of flooding at Pitts Park in Clarkesville on Dec. 28, 2918. (photo/Daniel Purcell)
It was an image viewed ’round the world; aerial shots of a flooded Pitts Park appeared on news outlets from Atlanta, to New York, to Australia and beyond. The drone footage, captured by Daniel Purcell, showed the extent of the flooding caused by a storm system that wreaked havoc across the southeast at the end of Christmas week.
Between 3-6 inches of rain fell across northern Georgia, causing the Soque River adjacent to Pitts Park to overflow its banks. The popular park was submerged under approximately four feet of water on Dec. 28, 2018. Flood waters receded the next day but left behind a mess of sand and silt.
Now, the park is closed for cleanup.
The City of Clarkesville issued a notice on Thursday, Jan. 3 that “Pitts Park is closed until further notice due to flood clean up operations.”
Despite another recent round of rain, City Police Chief Brad Barrett says the park is not flooded again, “Just really soaked.”
Officials are asking the public to please avoid the area until the park cleanup is complete.
