Dunwoody Park Improvements and our Future Direction
As my day job took precedence, I sent the following email with my overarching feedback to our mayor, council and key staff:
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Email addresses are:
Mayor & Council Members CouncilMembers@dunwoodyga.gov
City Manager Eric Linton Eric.Linton@dunwoodyga.gov
Assistant City Manager Jessica Guinn jessica.guinn@dunwoodyga.gov
Community Development Director Richard McLeod Richard.McLeod@Dunwoodyga.gov
Parks & Rec Director Brent Walker Brent.Walker@dunwoodyga.gov
Public Works Director Michael Smith michael.smith@DunwoodyGA.gov
All in one (Copy/paste)
CouncilMembers@dunwoodyga.gov; Eric.Linton@dunwoodyga.gov; jessica.guinn@dunwoodyga.gov; Richard.McLeod@Dunwoodyga.gov; Brent.Walker@dunwoodyga.gov; michael.smith@DunwoodyGA.gov
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My day job got in the way and I can't make this 4 pm public
meeting. Here’s some ideas I would like you all to seriously discuss and
consider:
1) No new parking spaces in our parks or new motor vehicle
access points. Instead, put the money into building out a greater connected
multi-use trailway network to access our parks. E.g.: Continue the trail from
Brook Run eastward along Tilly Mill to Peeler (connecting with Windward Hollow
park) to Winters Chapel.
2) Only spend the $$ we got from DeKalb (About $3.5M is left
I've been told??). Anything more, float a well-rounded infrastructure bond & put in on the November
ballot consisting of intersection projects, parks, trails, and a
land bank for future park space acquisition. We have a decade-long backlog of
intersection improvement projects. Acquire the cleared & vacant lot on the
corner of Mt. Vernon / Chamblee Dwy - to create a welcoming community centerpiece,
visually appealing pocket park. More & more. Let’s stop REACTING and be
PROACTIVE.
Put a citizen stakeholder committee together to
put the bond package together. Make sure 75% of them are under age 50. Or at least 50%.
These folks are the future. Include a well-defined & measurable project
list, legislative oversight, accountability and transparency into the Bond.
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Aside: For those of you who have not been trained or schooled in military tactics & strategy, allow me to provide you a pointer:
No country has EVER won a war by being on the defense.
You ONLY win a war by being on the offense. We’re playing reactionary defense.
Communities are the same. Be bold. Be strategic. Be visionary. Put the offense
back on the field and take action. Paving is “as is” operational maintenance.
Paving is reactionary. Paving isn’t why young families or businesses may choose
to move to Dunwoody.
3) Put in the low-hanging fruit items like some sand
volleyball courts. Focus first on amenities that are used on DAILY basis
that activate our parks, instead of "special" periodic events.
For an example of a nice stage pavilion, head over to Norcross’
Thrasher Park this Friday at 7:30 pm to see the
FAMOUS Ruperts Orchestra for a free concert. Get there EARLY! 4) More
BATHROOMS please. Get them installed at Windward Hollow.
5) Trails, Trails and More Trails!! Connecting all points of
the compass to our parks, neighborhoods, schools, retail and employment
centers. Trails are the NUMBER ONE Park amenity citizens have repeatedly been
asking for.
6) Tonight's agenda asks for an extra $500k to be put
into the paving budget. Instead, hire at least TWO new staff members
-- a) under Community Development to PROACTIVELY look out for our city, to be
proactive-vs- reactive in continuing to transition Dunwoody from a 1980’s
bedroom community with a mall, to a human-oriented activated community. b)
under the City Manager as an Active Transportation Coordinator, building Safe
Routes to School programs, encouraging folks of all ages to move around on
human-powered means, leaving the motor vehicles at home; reducing cars on our
streets. Can also work with Parks and support active PROGRAMING for our
residents.
Many thanks,
Joe
I personally love #3. I've been in contact with Brent Walker about this topic and have offered to help coordinate the planning and funding of some sand VB courts. Sand VB is among the fastest growing NCAA sports in the country. On a local level there's a HUGE community of players (young and old) who would benefit from a destination courts.
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