MABLETON, Ga. — Cobb County leaders say they are working with Six Flags Over Georgia to make the amusement park and surrounding area safer after chaos erupted on the first night the park opened up for the season in March.
Police said the shooting stemmed from a fight involving hundreds of teens inside the park – then spilled out when everyone was leaving.
Now, leaders from the City of Mableton and Six Flags Over Georgia are working together to ensure that acts of violence in and around the park are rare.
“We’ve increased police presence not just at Six Flags Over Georgia but up and down the corridor. We also have off-duty officers that will be present in the parking lots that wasn’t present before,” said City of Mableton Mayor Michael Owens.
Aside from increased police presence, Owens said more lighting will be installed to help deter crime.
Owens said several things can be done to make things safer for people who come out to Six Flags Over Georgia, and part of it has to do with building up the surrounding area.
“It’s a food desert. It’s a health-access desert. It's also a banking desert. So, the last part of this is that we’re going to reshape this area and make it more safe because we’re going to build it out,” said Owens.
Resident and park-goer Jared Allen said focusing more on giving kids a place to play might make things safer.
“They should add an area just for teens when they leave Six Flags Over Georgia. I think that will help contain most of the children,” said Allen.
11Alive reached out to Six Flags Over Georgia and Cobb County Police. As of Thursday evening, we haven’t received a response from the park, but Cobb Police did confirm the park is employing off-duty officers to help out with security.