GAINESVILLE, Ga. (AP) — Georgia's newest state park officially opens Monday.

The 1,316-acre Don Carter State Park is on the northeast part of Lake Lanier.

The Times of Gainesville reports  that the vision for the park began as a view of tree-covered land from a helicopter by the park's namesake, Gainesville businessman Don Carter, and former Georgia Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Joe Tanner.

The DNR ended up buying land in a process that lasted well over a decade.

The park is the first state park for Hall County. It's also the first state park on the shores of Lake Lanier.

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