A "pocket park" could be on its way to downtown Ball Ground.

After meeting in closed session during its meeting on Thursday, the Ball Ground City Council voted to authorize City Manager Eric Wilmarth to begin negotiations to buy less than one acre of land in the downtown area.

As the purchase is pending, the city is not releasing the specific site location, cost or property owner.

Wilmarth said he could make an offer to purchase the property as soon as an assessment is completed. The property is in the downtown area and part of it could be used to provide more parking downtown.

The council on Thursday also awarded a $71,583 contract to Strickland Pipeline & Construction, Inc. to build new sidewalks in the city.

The new sidewalks are along Valley Street between Beck Street and the entrance to the new Ball Ground Elementary facility and along Old Dawsonville Road between Gilmer Ferry Road and Calvin Farmer Park.

The sidewalks will be funded through federal community development block grants.

Council members also approved a resolution expressing a need to create an Opportunity Zone in the city.

The state program allows local governments to provide tax incentives for economic development and revitalization in a targeted area.

Also on Thursday night, the council approved appointing David Cannon as its associate municipal court judge and approved the first reading of an alcohol license application for Uncle Pepper's Pizza Kitchen at 10150 Ball Ground Highway.

The council's recreation committee notified the council it will work with the Northeast Cherokee Softball League to obtain county parks bond revenue to build a new softball field adjacent to the current field.