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PRODUCED BY THE CITY OF BROOKHAVEN
Holidays in the ’Haven
Brookhaven expands winter festivities with ice skating rink; Light Up Brookhaven returns
Brookhaven will launch its holiday celebration season with the return of Light Up Brookhaven, planned for Wednesday, Dec. 4, in Blackburn Park, 3493 Ashford Dunwoody Road from 6-9 p.m., while a synthetic ice-skating rink in Brookhaven Park will be the star of a brand-new winter tradition.
The ice rink will open Saturday, Dec. 7, at noon in the newly renovated Brookhaven Park, 4158 Peachtree Road, and will remain open Fridays-Sundays through Jan. 5. Skaters will be able to register online for free for 45-minute sessions, with a limited number of walk-ups permitted. More information will be coming soon at www.BrookhavenGA.gov/ice-skating.
“Rudolph’s Rink” will serve as an anchor for Holidays in the ’Haven festivities in Brookhaven Park, including “Snowed In Cinema” (movie screenings), “Santa’s Village” (arts and crafts), “Festive Food Lane” (food trucks and concessions), and “Grinch Games” (family lawn game area).
“I’m excited to announce the return of Light Up Brookhaven, a beloved holiday tradition,” said Brookhaven Mayor John Park. “And enhancing our holiday celebration with an ice rink in a winter wonderland is just another part of what Brookhaven is about – bringing everyone together.”
As in years’ past, Light Up Brookhaven in Blackburn Park will be packed with holiday-themed activities, including food, music, crafts,
and giveaways leading up to the dramatic arrival of Santa, once again via the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta helicopter, followed by the lighting of the City’s dazzling 40’ Christmas tree. Rabbi Brian Glusman will also be returning this year to perform and to help light the City’s Hanukkah Menorah and dreidel.
Don’t forget to pose with Santa and two of his live reindeer, returning with their big red sleigh. Giving the gift of holiday entertainment, local school groups will come a-caroling for everyone’s entertainment. A petting zoo, train rides, and winter-themed bouncy houses will also be available for the kids to enjoy.
These activities are bound to work up an appetite. Food and adult beverage trucks will be on hand, and to take the chill off a cool December evening, the Girl Scouts will be selling hot chocolate as a holiday fundraising project.
Light Up Brookhaven returns to Blackburn Park Dec. 4
Letter from the Mayor
Seasons Greetings, Brookhaven!
I’m thankful to be closing out my first year as your mayor on a positive note. It’s been a year of hard work and progress, and I thank you for electing me to this position.
This is going to be an exciting holiday season- come celebrate Holidays in the ’Haven at our newly reopened Brookhaven Park, which will be transformed into a winter wonderland for the month of December. We’ll have our very first ice-skating rink for all to enjoy - you will be able to sign up for free at www.BrookhavenGA. gov/ice-skating. It’s just one more part of what makes Brookhaven so special - bringing us all together.
Also, as you’ll see on the following pages, our street sweeping and road sign replacement projects are in progress, and paving continues. With an eye to the future, Council also approved a Multimodal Study and updates to the Comprehensive Plan.
Please stay tuned to Brookhaven news by following the City’s Facebook, Instagram and X pages @BrookhavenGaGov and by signing up for The Brookhaven Blast weekly email at www.BrookhavenGA.gov/Communications.
You can always contact me at John.Park@ BrookhavenGA.gov or on my cell at 404-822-7059 with any questions or concerns.
Brookhaven City Council Meetings
The Brookhaven City Council generally meets the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. at 4362 Peachtree Road. Visit www.BrookhavenGA.gov/Calendar for schedule changes.
To access meetings and videos, go to the Meetings & Agendas tab near the bottom of the homepage.
Brookhaven Vision and Mission
Vision
Brookhaven will be nationally recognized as a beautiful community where multiple generations can live in safety, flourish in business and succeed in a historic, sustainable environment with exceptional education and transportation options.
Mission
In support of the Brookhaven vision, the City government shall: encourage and maintain a beautiful community, meet public safety needs, develop an environment for business success, promote sustainable projects and activities, identify and preserve historic and neighborhood resources, facilitate educational opportunities, and improve transportation conditions, connectivity, and options while listening to and communicating with the public.
Diaz District 1
Jennifer Owens District 2
Madeleine Simmons
John Park Mayor
John.Park@BrookhavenGA.gov
In October, Brookhaven celebrated the topping out of the first mass timber municipal building in the state of Georgia with the final panel placed atop the future Brookhaven City Centre building. Pictured above right are former Mayor John Ernst, District 1 Council Member Michael Diaz, District 3 Council Member Madeleine Simmons, Mayor John Park, District 2 Council Member Jennifer Owens, and Mayor Pro Tem and District 4 Council Member John Funny.
The City of Brookhaven hosted its first Veterans Day ceremony on Nov. 11. The event, let by District 3 Council Member Madeleine Simmons (above right), took place in Langford Park. It included the Brookhaven Police Honor Guard, remarks from Mayor and Council, the “Star Spangled Banner” performed by Donna Kennebrew (above left), and reflections from Mike Hibbard, 8th Air Force Historical Society.
Officer Villagomez, center, was awarded the Brookhaven Police Chief’s Recognition Award at the Brookhaven Chamber of Commerce’s September luncheon. Villagomez is pictured with Police Chief Brandon Gurley and District 1 Council Member Michael Diaz.
Montgomery Elementary School 5th-graders left their mark in the latest City infill sidewalk project on the corner of Oconee Pass and Ashford Dunwoody Rd. These seven students were selected by Dr. Bolds for their good citizenship and school spirit.
City News
Road Tours 2.0: City street sweeper on the road
Brookhaven’s City-owned street sweeper, known as “The Rain Brigade,” takes on the streets of Brookhaven through March 2025.
The City street sweeper is dubbed the Rain Brigade for its ability to do more than clean the surface level. The Rain Brigade uses regenerative air to clean the streets and minimize the dust emitted from the sweeper. Its suction hose and vacuum keep City streets looking good by cleaning out catch basins and those difficult-to-sweep areas. This allows for clean stormwater runoff and the prevention of water pollution.
“Our goal is to sweep every street within a year,” said Public Works Director Jorge Gomez.
As the street sweeper travels through the City reaching difficult-to-sweep areas, residents are asked to keep vehicles off the street for the sweeper to effectively run through the neighborhood.
Rain Brigade street sweeping notice signs will be posted in advance.
Brookhaven Sign Upgrade: Clearer paths ahead!
Coming soon, residents will gradually see new and improved City street signs with the approval of the new 5 Year Sign Replacement Program.
On Oct. 8, the Mayor and City Council approved a $1,000,000 agreement with Big Apple Services Inc. to replace unreadable and damaged street signs throughout the City.
“Updating our street signs is a critical step in making our City safer, more accessible, and more aesthetically pleasing,” said Mayor John Park, “Clear, visible signage helps drivers and pedestrians navigate more easily and make Brookhaven a better place for current and future residents.”
The project will focus on replacing all street name signs, STOP signs, speed limit, school zone and other regulatory signage. Sign replacements will begin this year in several areas throughout Brookhaven conducted in each of the districts on a community-by-community basis, with the goal of completion by 2029.
The project will ensure the signs meet the latest standards set by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).
At its regular Aug. 27 meeting, the Brookhaven City Council approved the 2024 Multimodal Study with several amendments following substantial public input.
The resulting plan serves as an update to the City’s first Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Trail Plan, which was adopted in 2016. The overall purpose of the plan is to advance the City of Brookhaven’s commitment to equitable multimodal connectivity by building a strategic network of comfortable and accessible biking, walking, paddling, and micromobility infrastructure that work in tandem with transit, while providing the necessary programmatic and policy tools to support it.
The latest updates to the plan can be found at www.BrookhavenGA.gov/publicworks/page/ multimodal-study.
The City of Brookhaven hosted one last call for public comments at the Oct. 8 regular meeting of the Brookhaven City Council. Upon closing public comments, Council adopted the Comprehensive Plan 10-Year updates.
The 2044 Comprehensive Plan is the first major update to the plan document since the City’s inaugural plan, completed in 2014. This plan update is more user friendly to easily review information and builds upon the City’s current Comprehensive Plan. The Bound for 2044 plan supports long-term community aspirations while grounding the plan in directive policy and actionable steps. The update also includes a focus on housing diversification, equity, and furthering goals and initiatives of other planning efforts.
Other new items:
• Increasing housing diversity was a key focus of this plan
• Every part of the City has a role to play in addressing the housing challenge.
• To uphold Brookhaven’s housing value, this plan recommends allowing duplexes by right in all single-family districts.
• Character area policy reflects this recommendation.
Visit Brookhaven2044.com to read the executive summary and adopted plan.
International Festival Celebration of cultures returns
The 2nd annual Brookhaven International Festival along the Peachtree Creek Greenway drew thousands of attendees for a weekend of multicultural celebration including live shows headlined by The Itals and Tito Puente Jr., global food court and marketplace, 5K benefiting We Love Buford Highway, kidz zone, health and wellness center, and more.
Alerts and notifications help inform you on weather, traffic, and other emergencies in your community. When you opt-in for alerts, you will have the option to choose the kind of notifications you prefer to receive. Sign up at www.BrookhavenGA.gov/
BROOKHAVEN, GA
Brookhaven Connect
The City of Brookhaven is excited to provide residents improved access to issue reporting and other helpful city information. Visit the city's website or search for 'Brookhaven Connect' in your opp store to download today.
