Kimberly Kleiber, Friends of Ormond-Grant Park, explains why she loves parks at the playground ribbon cutting, 2016. park

PARKPRIDE.ORG | SPRING 2017

Park Pride's Park Visioning Program Expands Impact! Park Pride is thrilled to announce that in 2017, due to the enthusiasm of supporters and the proven impact of our services, the Park Visioning Program will expand to serve the citizens and parks of unincorporated DeKalb County! Since the program's creation in 2008, Park Pride’s professional landscape architect, the Director of Park The Park Visioning Visioning, has worked with Friends of Program provides access the Park groups in the City of to a professional landscape to imagine and design, or in some cases, architect who, with vigorous redesign their neighborhood parks. community engagement, "The Park Visioning process has will create a park master helped to engage communities as they plan that can be used to develop a collective vision for their guide park development, neighborhood," stated Alvin Dodson, raise funds, and serve as a Deputy Commissioner of the City of Atlanta Department of Parks and foundation for a park that in this issue Recreation. "We look forward to our meets the needs of the continued partnership with Park Pride." community. The Front Lines of Park Advocacy page 2 Park Visioning is a keystone program Parks & Greenspace Conference of Park Pride. Its process embodies page 3 the organization’s value of a bottom-up to the pick-up soccer player, to the stay- approach, recognizing the residents of at-home parent and the avid dog walker. Grants for the Greener Good the neighborhoods we work with as All have different ideas and hopes for page 4 experts of their own community and what their park could become, and the 2016 Impact Report: Preview giving their needs and wishes a voice. Park Visioning process calls for several page 6 public meetings organized specifically to The program is inclusive of all individuals encourage and collect feedback from the in a community—from the retired teacher, community at large. continued on page 2. ENGAGING COMMUNITIES TO ACTIVATE THE POWER OF PARKS From the Front Lines Park Visioning continued from page 1. In 2016, Park Pride welcomed of Park Advocacy Andrew White as the new Director of Park Visioning and A MESSAGE FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MICHAEL HALICKI Teri Nye as the Park Visioning Coordinator. The team Park Pride serves as the “voice for parks” in the City of Atlanta, quickly dove into their work, and 2017 will be a big year with many park advocacy issues at the completing a park visioning forefront of decisions that will potentially impact many city residents. effort for the future Westside It is important that all park enthusiasts stay vigilant, be aware of the park, Boone Park West, set to issues outlined below and prepare to raise your voice when needed: break ground in 2017, as well as a linear park concept known as • FY2018 Budget for the City of Atlanta – Park Pride sees an increase in the Memorial Drive Greenway the park maintenance budget as a vital issue during the annual budgeting to the east of Downtown. process, and it doesn’t always get the attention it deserves. Maintenance matters! The combined background and experience of White and • Mayor’s Race – In 2017, Atlanta will elect our next mayor. Park Pride will Nye has made, in part, the work to educate mayoral candidates and other elected officials to ensure expansion into DeKalb County they understand the importance of parks to the city as a whole and the feasible, and Park Pride looks forward to expanding the need for greater funding for parks and park improvements. impact of the Park Visioning • Atlanta City Design – The City’s plan to accommodate double or triple Program with a total of four “visionings” in 2017 across our current population isn’t just about population density; it is also about Atlanta and DeKalb. the need for open space and connections to nature to ensure quality of life as we grow and develop as a city. "We have had a great working relationship with Park Pride • Westside – Parks are a big part of community revitalization efforts on for a number of years," said Atlanta’s Westside and lay the foundation for the future of this part of Marvin Billups, Interim Director the city. These parks respond to the area’s need for more greenspace and of Recreation, Parks & Cultural address stormwater issues with green infrastructure. Affairs of DeKalb County. "We are delighted to now expand • TSPLOST – The successful passage in 2016 of the Atlanta ballot measure the scope of services Park that provides funding for the Atlanta BeltLine and non-BeltLine trails is Pride brings to DeKalb parks to only the first step. The next step is to make sure funding for trails gets a include Park Visioning." fair share as TSPLOST moves to implementation. Applications for visioning from DeKalb County Friends • Outdoor Stewardship Act – The State of Georgia can and groups are under review. Visit should play a role in supporting land conservation. Park Pride is part of Park Pride’s website in March a coalition that supports the need for matching dollars from the state to to learn which DeKalb County leverage local government funding for parks and greenspace. communities will benefit from Park Visioning in 2017. Join us in making your voice heard for the greener good! Friends of Knight Park, a City of Attend Park Pride’s monthly Park Meeting to stay up-to-date on all the latest Atlanta park, began the eight- advocacy issues and to learn more about what you can do in your community month visioning process in to take a stand for greenspace. Reach out to the Marketing & Communications February. Manager, Rachel Whyte ([email protected]) to receive monthly park Learn more about the Park advocacy email updates. Visioning Program: www.parkpride.org/we-can- Park Pride’s Park Meetings take place in a different help/park-visioning/ park around the city on the second Thursday of each month at 7:30 A.M. We’ll bring the coffee and donuts; you bring your passion for parks!

2 parkviews | spring 2017 16th Annual Parks & Greenspace Conference connect to the theme: the impact of an Connecting with Parks integrated park system Monday, March 27, 2017 Carlos Perez, Register today: www.parkpride.org/conference Co-Chair, Parks Parks are places of common ground, of connection, and have the potential to & Greenspace become the hearts of our communities. Parks are the threads that tie the diverse Conference; tapestry of our cities together. These connections are the focus of the Park Pride board th member 16 Annual Parks & Greenspace Conference, themed Connecting with Parks.

Over the last few decades, Through conversations led by locally and nationally recognized speakers, leading cities throughout the Connecting with Parks will explore the physical and abstract connections that U.S., such as Washington, parks create through the lenses of: D.C., Los Angeles, and San • Health & Wellness • Transportation • Equitable Francisco, have realized the Development benefits that planning, designing • History • Water and managing greenspaces as • Design • Ecology systems generate. Central to these benefits is a Featured Speakers: park system’s flexibility to tackle keynote speakers Paul Morris, FASLA complex social, environmental Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. and economic challenges—such Audrey Peterman as traffic congestion, affordable Ed McBrayer housing, crime, food deserts, Author, Legacy on PATH Foundation flooding, water quality and the Land: A Black shortage—that metropolitan Couple Discovers Nancy Rigby areas face. Cox Foundations Our National Additionally, a "systems Inheritance & Tells Becky Katz approach" to park planning, Why Every American City of Atlanta design and management Should Care allows municipalities to stretch Additional Speakers: implementation dollars. That Elena Madison means a community receives Kaid Benfield Project for Public Spaces multiple services for every dollar spent on a park project, a huge Author, People Robert Rogers benefit considering Atlanta’s Habitat: 25 Ways Rogers Partners infrastructure back log and to Think about projected population growth. Greener, Healthier Thomas Woltz Nelson Byrd Woltz There is much to be discussed Cities on this topic! I invite you to join me at the 16th Annual Parks Join the list of conference sponsors. and Greenspace Conference, Contact Jane Zoellick, Development Manager, at [email protected]. Connecting with Parks, to learn more about the impact that parks 16th Annual Parks & Greenspace Conference and greenspace systems can presented by have on your daily life and the future of the Metro Atlanta area.

Hope to see you there, with support from

~ Carlos Perez

parkpride.org | for the greener good 3 Grants for the Greener Good

Park Pride congratulates the 17 Friends of the Park groups who were awarded funding in December 2016 through our Small Change, Community Building and Legacy Grant programs. The grants, which total over $820,000, include funding for bridges and trail systems which will increase access to greenspace; playgrounds and exercise stations which will provide opportunities for physical activity; and amenities such as benches, pavilions and shade structures, which will provide

Families enjoy the new playground at community gathering spaces. during the ribbon cutting ceremony, January 26, 2017.

Legacy Grants (generously funded by the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation) Available only to Friends groups in the City of Atlanta Atlanta Memorial Park replaced the playground (which Little Nancy Creek Park will implement phase IV of had been plagued by flooding and sewage spills) with a new, their master plan, which includes a pavilion and seating community-designed playground located on higher ground for family and community gatherings, trash/recycling and in a more accessible location. receptacles, beautification plantings and signage.

Blue Heron Nature Preserve will expand its permeable South Fork Conservancy will construct a pedestrian trail system, the "Blueway," that will highlight the rich bridge across the North Fork of , providing habitats along Mill and Nancy Creeks and eventually access to the South Fork Trail from PATH400, to the connect to and PATH400. Atlanta BeltLine and to the sidewalks of as well.

Lake Claire Park will oversee a playground renovation will expand their natural surface multi- (to the joy of neighborhood children!) and build an ADA use trails with a bridge and boardwalk, enhancing visitor accessible overlook with shade structures. access to the forested areas of the park and encouraging healthy recreation.

Community Building Grants (generously funded by The Home Depot Foundation) Available to Friends groups in both the City of Atlanta (COA) and DeKalb County (DC) Bitsy Grant Tennis Center (COA) will construct a court- Jennie Drake Park (COA) will continue to work towards side deck for viewers to comfortably enjoy watching matches. the fulfillment of their master plan, installing a soft-surface path, distance markers and dog-waste stations, and creating Briarlake Forest Park (COA) will add amenities, designated bird-watching areas. including picnic tables, benches, and trail signs, and will plant more native species throughout the greenspace. Johns Homestead (DC) will construct a boardwalk over a creek that had previously rendered a large portion of the Henderson Park (DC) will receive a redesign of the park’s park inaccessible. This connection will almost double the trail system, implement erosion control measures, add new number of usable trails! signage and provide stepping stones at creek crossings. Peachtree Park (COA) will benefit from a new access Historic 4th Ward Park (COA) will conduct a point to the nature trail, and the addition of benches and comprehensive planting and rejuvenation of several landscape exercise stations that will encourage greater use of the park beds in alignment with the park’s original master plan. from the surrounding communities.

Small Change Grants (generously funded by the Cecil B. Day Foundation) were awarded to Mattie Freeland Park (COA), Standing Peachtree Park (COA), Underwood Hills Park (COA) and DeKalb Memorial Park (DC) for small- scale beautification projects.

Learn more about Park Pride's Grant Programs: parkpride.org/we-can-help/grant-programs/ 4 parkviews | spring 2017 Become a Champion for Parks! 2017 Corporate Champions Please reach out to Jane Zoellick, Development Manager, Thank you to the following organizations for their extraordinary generosity in to learn more. support of Park Pride’s annual operating needs, programs and events! [email protected] benefactor or 404-546-6855.

guardian

sustainer crusader activator Visionary Circles Visionary

gold

PEREZ PLANNING + DESIGN, LLC

silver

green Supporter Circles Supporter Arborguard Tree Specialists park pride board updates The achievements of Park Pride would not be possible without the tremendous dedication of our Board of Directors. This January, we enthusiastically welcomed three new board members (right) who heartily believe in the power of parks!

We also extend our deepest thanks and appreciation to three board members who have Lee Harrop, Sandra Jiménez, Caroline Vroon, recently completed their board terms: Verna Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. Accolade, Inc. Cherokee Garden Jennings Cleveland, Lisa Gordon and Ted Nelson. Club Thank you for your service to Atlanta's parks! parkpride.org | for the greener good 5 2016 Impact Report Preview For the full report, visit www.parkpride.org

Friends of Ormond-Grant Park at the ribbon cutting for the new playground, June 2016.

English Avenue community member provides input on a park visioning plan for Boone Park West, December 2016. Adams Park boardwalk, completed with funding from a 105 Park Pride Legacy Grant, September 2016. Friends of the Park groups - the most ever!

$3,429,707 2 Invested in parks Park visionings through grants and completed with funds raised by input from over Friends groups 1000 community mission members to engage communities to activate the power of parks Over 22 400 Active community attendees at the th gardens in 15 Annual Parks parks & Greenspace Conference 19,970 Volunteer service hours in parks

Participant on the Community Garden Tour Executive Director, inspects produce, May 2016.. Michael Halicki, welcomes attendees to the Parks & Greenspace Conference, March 2016.

6 parkviews | spring 2017 Volunteers create a pollinator garden in Vine City Park, March 2016. Thank You 2016 Annual Campaign Donors Success! Thanks to many generous donors, we fully matched the $25,000 challenge grant* we received from the Dorothy & Charlie Yates Family Fund with new and increased donations. Park Pride makes every effort to ensure we accurately list our donors. If you feel there are errors or omissions, please contact our Development Manager, Jane Zoellick: [email protected], 404.546.6855. *Blue = Challenge Grant Donor

VISIONARY CIRCLES SUPPORTER CIRCLES Peachtree Garden Club Claire & Luther Griffith Catherine Spillman Timothy & Patrice Pollock Elizabeth & Sheffield Hale Ellen Kierr Stein PLATINUM ($7,500+) PROTECTOR ($500-999) Larry & Sandra Prince Brian Hankin in honor of Eli Rawson Stein Anonymous Peggy Allumbaugh Walt Ray in honor of Joe Cronk Stephanie Stuckey Benfield Dorothy & Charlie Yates Family Fund C. E. Mendez Foundation Nancy Rogers Barbara & Robert Harkey Rick Tigner Morgens West Foundation Susan & Carl Cofer Keith Sharp Lee Harrop Lawrence Toner Jeffrey & Kelley Ellman John & Peggy Shepard Skipper & Katie Hartley Nill & Donna Toulme GOLD ($5,000-7,499) Tom & Oggie Gay in honor of Esther Stokes Brian Hooker Stephanie Van Parys Mr. & Mrs. Michael D'Antignac Dan Gerding Charlie & Margaret Shufeldt Michael Horton Jim Vernor Dorothy Yates Kirkley The Graves Foundation Arnie & Janet Silverman Ralph & Mary Ellen Horton Kent Walker James Starr Moore Memorial The John F. Oglesby Charitable Fund in honor of Carlos Perez Foundation Roxanne Smith Julie Hotchkiss Jinny & Michael Keough in honor of Roberta Moore Andrew White Teed & Sadler Poe Mildred & John Spalding Lindsay Marshall in honor of Lindsey Sones Gayle & Bill Ide Rachel & Christopher Whyte The Mary & Charlie Yates Family Fund Pam Sugarman Caroline John Edward Wilcox SILVER ($2,500-4,999) in honor of Dorothy Kirkley Bruce & Libby Wanamaker Handy Johnson, Jr. Anne & David Wilkie The Challenge Fund Michael & Suzanne Masters Mrs. Sue S. Williams John Johnson & Chris Lewis Christine & Wayne Williams George & Nancy Ickes George & Ellen Nemhauser in honor of Allison Barnett Pete Zirnheld Kelly Jordan Greta Ytterbo & Chuck Coletta Mrs. John Rumely Alan Kennedy Jane & Steve Zoellick Barbara & Ron Reid Sara & Paul Steinfeld Esther & Jim Stokes Kip & Harriet Kirkpatrick Dr. John Strickler & Matt Hunter Committed to the Cause FRIEND ($50-99) Anita & John Strickler Marcia & Daniel Klenbort Tally Sweat 100% of Park Pride Board in honor of Esther Stokes John Ahern Mr. & Mrs. William G. Vance Larry & Debbie Ahern GREEN ($1,000-2,499) and Staff support the Alan & Peggy Kuniansky Mr. & Mrs. Bryan Vroon Howard & Susan Lalli Mr. William Barney, III Robin Aiken & Bill Bolen organization. Elkin Goddard Alston Julie & John Webster George Lanier B.B. Nathan Charitable Fund Patricia Barmeyer Mr. & Mrs. K. Whitner Dick Layton Mary Lou & Gordon Boice in honor of Roberta Moore Bobbo Jetmundsen Foundation O. Jesse Wiles ADVOCATE ($100-249) Alison LeBreton Barbara Borczak Mr. & Mrs. Robert Yellowlees Mr. & Mrs. Howell E. Adams, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Richard H. Lee Rob & Stephanie Brawner C. J. & Leslie Cash Anonymous Bill Lide Joan & Robert Brown CHAMPION ($250-499) Anonymous Ronald Loines & Betty Hanacek Martha Church Dr. Bill & Verna Cleveland Judy & Dick Allison Claire & Joseph Cronk Linda Bain James J. Long Dr. & Mrs. F. Thomas Daly, Jr. Yum & Ross Arnold Karen Degrammont The Dan & Merrie Boone in honor of Allison Barnett Larry Lord Foundation Eleanor Banister Cathi Barlow in memory of Shannon Lord Deborah & Coleman DeMoss in honor of Esther Stokes Allison & Michael Barnett Elaine & Jerry Luxemburger Sam & Liz DeSimone Melody & Ted Darch Thomas Barrow Linda DiSantis & Bob Kerr Gale & Stephen Barnett in memory of A. J. Dowling Vickie & Rufus Dorsey Dr. & Mrs. James N. Brawner Mary Barrett & Xavier Duralde Jane & Douglas Lybrook Mary Fair Joseph & Robin Finley in honor of Louisa D'Antignac Courtney Fletcher Foundation Ellen Macht John & Cam Fenton Elizabeth & Patrick Bruenderman The Betty & Davis Fitzgerald in honor of Allison Barnett Mark & Maureen Goldman The Goldstein Family Foundation in honor of Ellen Bruenderman Paula Lawton Bevington Mr. & Mrs. Jay Mannelly Abigail Gross Lisa Y. Gordon Ellen Bruenderman Sheila Bissonnette Andrea Marin in honor of Allison Barnett Edrick Harris Ed Castro Mr. & Mrs. Robert Boas Mary Pat Matheson Bonnie & Jay Harris Matthew Hicks Gordon & Sue Certain Robert A. Boudreau Candace McCaffery Annette Hines May B. & Howell Hollis Gloria & Walter Cheatham Kevin Brady Marlina McKay Nonnie & Burt Hotchkiss Henry & Margaret Howell Ann & Jim Curry Jami Buck-Vance William Mecke Charles Huddleston Barby & Bert Levy Ed & Elly Dobbs Riali & Blake Lyons in honor of Allison Barnett Katharine Montgomery Michael & Elizabeth Iademarco Tricia Downing Dave Butler Robert Moore Susan Kidd Mr. & Mrs. Steven R. McBrayer in memory of Beverly Benson Long in honor of John Ahern in honor of Roberta Moore Mike Lee John & Lee McColl George Dusenbury, IV Tres & Dana Carpenter Roberta Moore Esther Lippman Mac McKenzie Chris & Briana Eckles in honor of Allison Barnett Drs. Mike & Christine Murphy Tom & Miles Mallory Stuart & Sheryl Meddin Ed & Judy Garland Lesley & Jamie Carroll Brian & Beth Nonemaker Dr. & Mrs. Bill Martin Mr. & Mrs. Randy Merrill Louise Gunn Henny & Steve Clay Lisa Owen Robert & Mimi McCallum David & Jane Moss Habersham Garden Club Linda & Dean Copeland Thomas & Sally Pearson Gene & Sharon McClure Bob Mullen Michael Halicki in honor of Esther Stokes Craig & Terri Pendergrast Addison Meriwether Carlos F. Perez Sarah & Harvey Hill, Jr. JaKathryn Ross Susan & Ed Croft in memory of Britt Pendergrast Ena & Lige Moore Warren & Sally Jobe Millicent Drake Norman Guido & Ellen Sacchi Barbara & Bo Crum Sophia Peterman Executive Director, Becky Katz Patricia Oconnell Michael Halicki, welcomes in honor of Allison Barnett Winifred & Tread Davis Susan & Mike Petrik Ann & Larry Klamon Virginia & Oscar Persons attendees to the Parks & Greenspace Ellen Hauck & Markham Smith Jason & Carol D'Cruz Kathleen Powell Jane & Hicks Lanier Conference, March 2016. Don Dinkel Ken Price Larry Pless & Dana Halberg Lindsey & Peter Sones in honor of Sadler Poe David W. Strickler Mary & Bill Dodson Henry & Celia Quillian Mrs. Catherine T. Porter Bill & Joan Law Pauline E. Drake in honor of Joe Cronk Amy Riggins David & Sarah Sutherland in honor of Anita Strickler in honor of Dorothy Kirkley Mr. & Mrs. L. Prentice Eager III Tim & Julie Ralston J. Lindsay Stradley Ed McBrayer Katherine & Alan Elsas Kevin Redmon Claudia Virga Carollee Vernon Jonathan McCaig Ed & Sarah Emerson John Renaud & Jennifer Schiavone Bryan White & Jennifer Williams David & Lonni White Kevin McCauley in honor of Allison Barnett Lee & Sabre Esler Jae & John Robbins Ayanna Williams Sally & Allen McDaniel Ellen H. Wickersham Steven & Catherine Fox Marti Roveda Chuck & Pat Young Kathy & Barrie McFarlane Mr. & Mrs. William B. Fryer in honor of Ellen Wickersham Christopher T. Williams Karen & Hawk McIntosh Julia Woodroof & Stacy Mark Gilliland Chris & Julie Sawyer MATCHING GIFT Funderburke Mr. & Mrs. John Molinaro Greg Giuffrida Debbie Schneider PARTNERS in honor of Louisa D'Antignac Lou & Tom Glenn Ken & Caryl Smith The Benevity Community Impact Elaine & Claud Morgan in honor of Louisa D'Antignac Laura Smith Spearman Fund Brenda & Charlie Moseley Mr. & Mrs. James S. Grien Ann M. Speer Dell Inc. Park Pride’s Board of Directors Sadler Poe | President Retired Lawyer Carlos Perez | Vice President Perez Planning + Design Blake Lyons | Secretary Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta 233 Peachtree St NE Suite 1600 Barbara Borczak | Treasurer RSM US, LLP Atlanta, GA 30303 park Melody Darch | At-Large Cox Enterprises Lindsey Sones | At-Large Mimosa Garden Club Dorothy Yates Kirkley | Past President (Ex-Officio) Retired Lawyer Robin Aiken Homrich Berg C.J. Cash SunTrust Bank Joe Cronk Alvarez & Marsal Louisa D’Antignac Joe Finley Jones Day Courtney Fletcher Doosan Infracore International, Inc. Edrick Harris Prestwick Companies Lee Harrop Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. Matthew Hicks Grady Health System Sandra Jiménez Accolade, Inc. park pride events & deadlines Barbara Levy Education Connection March David Moss 4 Volunteer Day on the Atlanta BeltLine PricewaterhouseCoopers 9 Park Pride's Monthly Park Meeting Bob Mullen Jacobs Engineering 11 Workshop: Activating Your Park JaKathryn Ross 25 Park Ride (Parks & Greenspace Conference) Georgia-Pacific 26 Roswell Riverwalk Tour (Parks & Greenspace Conference) Esther Stokes Stokes Landscape Design 27 Annual Parks & Greenspace Conference, Connecting with Parks Anita Strickler Peachtree Garden Club April Park Pride's Monthly Park Meeting Caroline Vroon 13 Cherokee Garden Club 22 Earth Day Volunteer Event Ellen Wickersham Workshop: Raising Funds for Your Park EW Resources 29 Christopher Williams, Sr. May Georgia Power Company 1 Small Change Grant Application Deadline 2 Pints for Parks (benefitting Park Pride's advocacy initiatives) Mission To engage communities to 11 Park Pride's Monthly Park Meeting activate the power of parks.

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Facebook “f” Logo CMYK / .eps Facebook “f” Logo CMYK / .eps Printing generously @parkpride provided by the #forthegreenergood Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta.