A Kids Village may be a new concept for Forsyth County, but it is not new to Wilwat Properties, Inc.   Wilwat Properties developed Abbotts Kids Village in Alpharetta (at the intersection of Jones Bridge Road, and Abbotts Bridge Road) and they are nearing completion of the Dacula Kids Village on Highway 324 in Dacula.  These shopping centers have brightly colored awnings, colorful signs, and sidewalks painted with train tracks and hopscotch games—all geared toward kids—and all the shops and services are for kids. 

Their next children’s shopping center project is proposed at Post Road between the proposed Kroger and Midway Park, to be named Midway Kids Village.  The zoning application was scheduled to appear before the Planning Commission on November 27^th, but has been postponed until the next scheduled meeting. 

Although there has been no detailed traffic study to date, there has been a lot of discussion about how this Village might affect traffic.  Most of the businesses would not be open during morning rush hours (except for possibly Swim Atlanta and a gymnastics business), but all of the businesses would be open during afternoon peak traffic times.  The only access point on Post Road would be a shared access point with the Kroger. The road modifications for the Kroger will be reviewed to make sure that Post Road is modified appropriately to handle the traffic for this additional development. One of the attractions of this development will include a ball field that will be managed by Hitters Park (one of the businesses slated to move in to the Midway Kids Village) and will be used for practices and games (most likely for traveling teams).   There will be protective panels to catch foul balls and deflect them from the parking areas. During a game, no inning will be started after 9:30 and the lights on the field will most likely be turned off around 10:00 pm.

Jim Compton, a spokesperson for the Post Road Committee for Proper Development (a group of concerned homeowners from the area), states that area homeowners are split pretty evenly for and against the proposed Kids Village.   Primary concerns regarding this development include traffic and the placement of commercial business along the middle of a primarily residential road. Supporting comments mention the novelty of having a set of businesses that target younger children, especially right next to Midway Park and the new high school.