ACWORTH — WellStar Health System officials have set the date for a ceremonial groundbreaking on Acworth Health Park, although construction officially began on Aug. 8, WellStar spokesman Keith Bowermaster announced Wednesday.

Bowermaster said the first phase of the project at the corner of Cobb Parkway and Awtrey Church Road in Acworth is expected to cost $29 million and will likely employ 125 staff physicians, support staff and other various employees. Half of those will be new positions and half will be transfers from medical practices in the area who will be relocating to Acworth Health Park, Bowermaster said.

The private, ceremonial groundbreaking set for Oct. 17 was originally set for Tuesday, Bowermaster said, but with the Atlanta Regional Commission’s hearing in Cobb for the proposed light-rail project from the Cumberland area to Midtown Atlanta also taking place that day, Bowermaster said WellStar officials moved the groundbreaking to a later date so more officials could attend.

The Acworth Health Park is a multi-phase, five-year, $64 million project that could include a medical office building, diagnostic center, women’s diagnostic imaging center, urgent care services, sleep center, retail pharmacy and community education and wellness center.

The architect of the Acworth project is Marietta’s CDH Partners and the general contractor is Brasfield & Gorrie of Kennesaw.

The Acworth Health Park is very similar in concept to the proposed East Cobb Health Park, although the east Cobb project at the corner of Roswell and Providence roads is also set to have a 20,000-square-foot outpatient surgery center and will be a much larger project at 188,000 square feet. The East Cobb Health Park is set to begin construction in March.

The idea behind both parks is to have a one-stop-shop health and wellness center, where patients could, for example, visit with a doctor then, in the same complex, undergo physical therapy.

“The Acworth Health Park will place a heavy emphasis on health and wellness,” Bowermaster said. “We are exploring the provision of a wide array of programming to include chronic disease management, complementary medicine, screening and early detection, fitness and education.”

Bowermaster said the Acworth Health Park is an important part of WellStar’s overall five-year capital plan of $804 million.

Local business leaders can hear more about the project beginning at 11:30 a.m. today, as WellStar officials will be on hand to present attendees of the Acworth Business Association’s monthly luncheon with detailed information about the project and to answer questions. The cost of the luncheon, which will be at NorthStar Church located at 3413 Blue Springs Road, is $15 for members and $20 for guests.