Mayor’s Message
As we celebrate our city’s 150th Anniversary, we stand at the crossroads of history and the future. It’s a time for reflection, gratitude, and looking forward to the legacy we will continue to build together.
In 2024, we made meaningful strides toward enhancing our community for generations to come. One of the major highlights is the renovation of Jessie Davis Park, a space that will greet visitors as they enter our city from Highway 92. With improvements such as a new gym, walking trail, senior center, zero entry pool, and splash pad this park will be a place for all ages to gather, play, and connect for years to come.
We also took significant steps toward sustainability. We broke ground on a new Recycling Center that will provide a space for residents to drop off glass, plastics, and other materials, making it easier for all of us to do our part in protecting the environment for the future.
In addition, we have continued to invest in our vibrant Downtown area, hosting beloved community events at the Town Green such as the Jingle Jamboree Christmas Parade, Wednesday Wind Down, and concerts at the GreyStone Amphitheater.
As we celebrate 150 years in 2025, we are also laying the groundwork for the next 150. Our city’s Downtown Master Plan, Urban Redevelopment Plan, Comprehensive Plan, and Parks Master Plan are continually being updated to ensure that we
are prepared for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Your input is vital to the future of our community. I encourage you to participate in public meetings and engage in discussions about the direction you want to see our city take. The decisions made today will shape your future — and your voice matters.
As we celebrate our past, I am filled with excitement and hope for what is to come. Here’s to the next 150 years of growth, community, and progress.
Rochelle Robinson
MAYOR, DOUGLASVILLE
Dr. LaShun Burr Danley WARD 3, POST 1
Terry S. Miller MAYOR PRO TEM, WARD 1
Howard M. Estes WARD 5
Samuel Davis WARD 3, POST 2
Nycole N. Miller WARD 2, POST 1
Chris “Coach” Watts WARD 4
Elena Hudson WARD 2, POST 2
Financial Outlook
Human Resources
The mission of the Human Resources Department is to provide high-quality services to the City of Douglasville employees.
HIGHLIGHTS
1. Personnel, Policies, and Procedures Review
The Human Resources Department completed a comprehensive review of its personnel policies, procedures, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). This evaluation resulted in updates or enhancements to ensure compliance with evolving legal requirements and industry best practices. Through this review, HR aims to ensure that its practices remain progressive, supportive, and aligned with the city’s overall goals and values.
2. Summer Internship Program
HR successfully hosted its 6th Summer Internship Program. Eight interns were selected from various colleges and universities and were embedded in several departments to gain work experience relevant to their fields of study. HR enhanced the program by introducing a department shadowing day, which allowed interns to visit and experience work in other departments, providing a broader perspective of city operations.
3. Special Holiday Resolution
HR collaborated with city leadership to implement a special holiday resolution, resulting in city office closures during the week of Christmas. The initiative was highly successful, receiving positive feedback from employees. As part of our ongoing efforts to foster a supportive and thriving work environment, we look forward to continuing this initiative in future years.
4. Motorcycle Safety Training
MALE POPULATION
FEMALE POPULATION
A successful motorcycle safety training was held, that provided instruction on safe riding practices. The event also included guidance from the City of Douglasville’s Police Department Motors Division. 14% VETERAN POPULATION
HIRES (INCLUDING SEASONAL HIRES)
TO FILL JOBS 16
“One with our community.” Police Department
This year, the Douglasville Police Department continued its commitment to excellence by increasing its focus on training, staff development, and approximately 207 community outreach events.
Chief Dr. Gary Sparks, in his ninth year leading the department, has strategically worked to attract and retain a well-trained department whose goal is to not only protect and serve, but to be community centric. The tagline, “One with our community,” is not an idle saying. Sparks preaches it and teaches it through the policy and practice
of procedural justice. Every officer understands that treating every citizen with dignity and impartiality leads to community trust and ultimately to agency effectiveness.
Core values are at the crux of the department’s success with an emphasis on integrity, compassion, leadership, respect, and accountability, to name a few. Not only are officers responsible for upholding these values, but they are also duty-bound to report when another officer does not. This includes personal as well as professional conduct.
The department offers a starting annual salary of $56,135 to certified officers and provides numerous benefits, including:
• A take-home vehicle program
• Tuition reimbursement
• On-duty workouts in the department’s fitness center, equipped with excellent facilities and individual equipment
• Advanced technology
• Paid Peace Officers Annuity and Benefit Fund (POAB) dues
• Specialized units and opportunities for advancement
• Advanced training
• A community-oriented philosophy that resonates throughout the ranks
Community Development
The Community Development Department strives daily to create impactful activities that go beyond providing high-quality development, emphasizing sustainable and meaningful community engagement. In partnership with our diverse and growing community, the Community Development Department is dedicated to delivering exceptional services to the City of Douglasville by:
• Promoting smart, sustainable, and innovative growth
• Actively engaging the public through diverse participation methods
• Providing outstanding customer service
• Enhancing stewardship through sound technical expertise
• Positioning Douglasville as a regional destination of excellence
• Creating a vibrant environment for residents, businesses, and partners
Planning & Zoning
The Planning & Zoning Division continues to advance the community's long-term vision for land use through policies, ordinances, planning studies, capital project planning, and development reviews. It remains dedicated to improving residents' quality of life with effective land use regulations while fostering a vibrant business environment.
The Building & Inspections Division delivers thorough, informed, timely, and dependable plan reviews, permitting, and inspections for the development community, property owners, and public agencies. The division actively monitors project progress and works to resolve any outstanding issues efficiently.
SIGNIFICANT PLANNED CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
• Novo Apartments (Lee Rd)
• Plaza 92 Storage Facility
• Riverside West Warehouses
• Malone Road Self Storage
• Astoria at Crystal Lake (Senior Development near Chicago Ave)
• Timber Ridge at Prestley Mill (Single Family Homes)
• Bright Star Phases 5 & 6 (Warehouses)
• Chestnut Grove Townhomes
• Laurelwood Townhomes (Near Arbor Place Mall)
• Microsoft Data Center
• Jessie Davis Park
• Ashley Falls Phases 3 & 4 (Single Family Homes)
• Hazel Park (Senior Development)
• Town Green Greystone Amphitheater Warming Kitchen
• City of Douglasville Recycling Center
• Krystals
• Planet Fitness
• Brookmont Villages
• Homewood Suites Hotel
• Woodspring’s Suites Hotel
• Whitley Square (Townhome Development near Whitley & Veterans Memorial)
• Fowler Field Upgrades
• Youngstown Townhomes
• Heron Mill Apartments (Riverside Parkway)
• Durelee Senior Living Apartments
• W. Strickland Street (Townhome Development)
• Chick-Fil-A (Douglas Boulevard)
Building & Inspection’s
2024 ACTIVITIES
1,747
TOTAL PERMITS ISSUED
6,683
TOTAL INSPECTIONS
Code Compliance
The Code Compliance Division has successfully performed in the responsibilities of enforcing the city's nuisance codes, including tall grass and trash ordinances, inoperative vehicles, Business License regulations, activities without permits, Property Maintenance Code, and the Unified Development Ordinance. This type of complaint-based and proactive code enforcement is critical to our city's neighborhood preservation and revitalization efforts.
706
530
Conference Center & Tourism
The Conference Center and Tourism Department manages the city’s Conference Center, Welcome Center, and GreyStone Amphitheater at the Douglasville Town Green, ensuring they host successful events and provide excellent visitor experiences. The department promotes local attractions and collaborates with businesses and tourism organizations to boost economic growth and position Douglasville as a destination for both business and leisure. National Travel & Tourism
Convention & Visitors Bureau
Douglasville Conference Center
2024 Foot Traffic: 39.5K
• Restaurant Informational Brochure
• Photo Booth Installation at the Town Green
• App Rebrand
• Website Redesign
Continued Efforts
• Social Media spotlights on local businesses
• Public art initiative – Welcome Center window art and Outside the Lines Fence Gallery
2024 Highlights
• Visitor spending in Douglas County was $277.3 million resulting in a $469 tax relief for each household.
• Tourism sustains 3.6% of all jobs in Douglas County.
• Trick or Treat with Main Street, in partnership with Douglasville Main Street.
Signature Events
GreyStone Ampitheater at the Douglasville Town Green Initiatives
2024 Foot Traffic: 26.6K
Total Events: 87
Examples: Spring & Fall Concert Series R&B
Saturdays Brown Bag Concert Series · Yoga on the Green · Church St Farmers Market
Wednesday Wind Down
New Organizations
• Girl Scouts of Great Atlanta
• Atlanta West Carpets
• Electra Grid Solutions
• Walmart
• BeVera Solutions
Returning Organizations
• Georgia Automotive Manufacturing Association
• Paulding County School System
• Cobb County School System
• Publix
• Precision Blasting
• Wellstar
• Association of Natural Health
Week
Things BlockParty ParksReunion Tour
Community Relations
As we reflect on Douglasville’s incredible 150-year journey, 2024 stands out as a vibrant chapter in our shared story. From lively festivals to educational programs and cherished traditions, every event echoed the enduring spirit of Douglasville—a city built on connection, resilience, and vision.
In 2024 alone, we hosted over 160 events, each one strengthening the bonds within our community. Whether it was grooving at our record-breaking Wednesday Wind Down, celebrating our nation’s independence at the Independence Day Parade, or embracing the holiday spirit at the Jingle Jamboree, these gatherings were more than just moments—they were bridges between our past and future.
Our connection with the community extends beyond inperson events. Over the past year, our audience has grown to over 28,000 people across all social media platforms, with engagement up 31.5%. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram, X, and Nextdoor, and be sure to check out our YouTube page, @DouglasvilleCITITV, for more content highlighting the heart of Douglasville.
As we turn the page to 2025, our 150th anniversary, we’re not just looking back at where we’ve been—we’re looking forward to where we’re going. This milestone year will be filled with events and initiatives that honor our heritage and celebrate the people who make Douglasville what it is today: a thriving, welcoming community with a bright future.
Here’s to the next 150 years, and to all of us who will write the next chapters together.
Public Services
Department Streets
Our operations team implemented new safety initiatives and training programs to integrate added safety standards to our day-to-day tasks, increasing employee and citizen safety at all levels within our department, reducing potential injuries and accidents. Monthly safety meetings, Tailgate Talks, have been incorporated to address employee operational questions, training needs and ideas to improve individual and team performance.
Fleet
To ensure safety and enhance employee success, the department began encouraging and supporting employees in their pursuit of their Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) through our internal Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) program, a certified CDL training program. A CDL is required to operate any commercial vehicle or certain other types of heavy equipment that weighs over 26,001 pounds. This year, Public Services currently has 4 employees that are participating in the CDL Training Program. To put this in perspective the city has 19 trucks that require a CDL. To receive a CDL, applicants must pass both skills and knowledge tests geared to higher standards required to drive a commercial vehicle.
“Make every interaction count, even the small ones. They are all relevant.”
– Shep Hyken
Street Resurfacing 2024 Projects Update:
The Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant (LMIG) program provides to local governments to preform improvements to their roadway network each year. The funding source for LMIG is a percentage of the state motor fuel tax.
2024 LMIG Projects Completed:
• Baldwin Paving
• 31 streets
• 6.26 miles (33,052 ft)
• Currently under construction
• 75% complete at end of year
• ~4 miles paved
• Total of 46 miles resurfaced since 2016
SPLOST - approximately 1/4 of all City streets
Upcoming
2024 Supplemental LMIG
• 20 streets
• 5.49 miles (28,987 ft)
• Awarded to Blount Construction
• Construction to start in Spring 2025
2025 LMIG
• List approved by council
• Approximately $5M contract
• 10.8 miles
• Bid package being prepared
Recycling Center
While many of the details are still in the works, the city’s new, state of the art, 11,000 sq ft recycling center facility will include 5 bays, provide for source-separation and have a designated drop point for the single-stream recycling materials. The City’s curbside recycling program was suspended during the pandemic due to a combination of limited internal resources and the reduction in operational centers accepting recyclable materials. Now, the city’s forward-thinking approach will help the community prioritize recycling efforts again - allowing Douglasville to maximize landfill diversion, promote environmental stewardship and raise awareness about the benefits of recycling.
Keep Douglasville Beautiful
Farmers Market:
The City of Douglasville’s Farmers Market was chosen by Georgia Business Journal as the regional Winner in the Produce Market and Local Farms category in the Best of Georgia Awards. This award is a recognition of the dedication and support the City and KDB have contributed toward the growth and success of this event.
7,149 CUSTOMERS SERVED
$4,779 PROVIDED TO SNAP/EBT ELIGIBLE FAMILIES
$91,000+
Adopt-A-Road:
5,530 lbs of litter collected along Douglasville Right of Way
60hrs 45min of Volunteer time
276 Volunteers
21 current organizations in Adopt-A-Road program
Recycling:
Annual Spring & Fall Recycling events recycled
15,560 lbs
2024
Residential Sanitation:
Total Residential Properties Serviced Solid Waste Tonnage Yard Waste Tonnage
Bulk Waste Special Pick-Ups
11,000 lbs
Special Land Use Permits 10,128 10,172.98 Tons 1394.26 Tons 427 83
Commercial Sanitation:
Provides roll off services to 122 customers and 651 front load customers, most of which have more than one container to be serviced.
The City’s roll off sanitation drivers completed over 4,640 hauls this year with 17,946.93 tons of various construction and solid waste materials.
And last but by no means least –we have a Public Services staple in our department and community set to retire in January 2025. Our department would like to wish Director, Greg Roberts – a happy and blessed retirement and thank him for his 32 years of dedication to the City of Douglasville.
Sanitation
Parks & Recreation
This year has been a testament to the power of collaboration, innovation, and dedication to our mission of enhancing the community’s quality of life. Our success is built not only on the dedication of our team but also on the strong relationships we’ve cultivated with our community members.
The Power of Partnerships
This summer, we had the pleasure of working with a diverse array of collaborators and partners who contributed to our initiatives to foster meaningful connections, while developing our youth along the way.
The Atlanta Hawks presented another exciting Community Court Tour clinic this summer. During their visit to Douglasville, over 150 young participants enjoyed basketball clinics focused on fundamental skills, fitness, and characterbuilding exercises. The event is part of a larger initiative to inspire physical activity and foster positive community connections among youth
Our newly developed partnership with NFL FLAG offered boys and girls aged 7 to 12 the chance to learn fundamentals and participate in an inclusive game of 5v5 flag football, while showing the utmost team spirit by wearing authentic
Demonstrating the department’s youth engagement and community outreach efforts, this initiative aims to promote a healthy lifestyle and valuable life skills among young athletes. The program focuses on teaching essential football skills such as passing and teamwork in a safe environment. Reaching over 120 young athletes, we encouraged physical fitness and helped children form friendships through shared experiences on the field.
Our partnership with MLS Atlanta United focused on boosting community involvement within youth programs. Atlanta United has been involved in events and activities that support the department’s goal of fostering sports, recreation, and health among residents. This partnership encompasses organizing soccer clinics, supplying resources for sports programs, and backing events that unite communities through recreational activities. With over 150 attendees, these partnerships showcase Atlanta United’s strong dedication to grassroots soccer, while spotlighting our mission to cultivate inclusive and vibrant recreational spaces for everyone to enjoy.
Building for Tomorrow
The Rec N Roll: On the Go Learning is the continuation of an initiative that’s reached more than 1,600 youth in our community. This program combines educational and recreational activities, providing hands-on experiences that comply with Georgia Department Of Education standards to enhance classroom learning. The Mobile Rec Unit operates through delivering engaging curriculum-based educational opportunities to neighborhoods, parks, and community events.
Elevating the Experience
The much-anticipated driving range renovation was completed this year at the West Pines Golf Course. Work started in late July 2024 and was completed at the end of September 2024 with the range reopening for use on October 1, 2024.
The new range has been receiving rave reviews and experiencing record-setting use. Highlights include the expanded and laser-graded tee box, new artificial turf mats installed on the back side of the tee box, and a regraded landing area featuring five new target greens and six shortgame target bumps. Additionally, the range boasts all-new irrigation heads and wiring, as well as new bag stands, trash cans, and club cleaners.
Raising the Bar for Excellence
The American Academy for Parks and Recreation Administration (AAPRA) and National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) recognize prestigious parks and recreation agencies, nationwide, that excel in serving their communities. It is with great pride we announce that we have been honored as the 2024 Class IV Gold Medal Recipient, we have been signified as an agency among the best in the nation, showcasing excellence. This award recognizes us as a department that demonstrates outstanding commitment to providing high-quality recreational programs, preserving natural spaces, and promoting inclusive access for all community members. Reflecting our dedication to fostering well-being, creating memorable experiences, and enhancing the quality of life for residents, it is a source of inspiration as we continue to enhance the quality of life for all residents.
Building for the Future
Jessie Davis Park is now open and stands as a cornerstone of the New Horizon community, following a $25 million redevelopment. The park boasts a new gymnasium complementing the existing one, a modern community center offering expanded programs and rental spaces, and a state-of-the-art senior center. Visitors can enjoy a synthetic turf football field, ready for sports such as football, soccer, and even lacrosse. Additional upgrades include updated playgrounds, new pavilions, and a zero-entry swimming pool featuring splash elements. These upgrades provide dynamic spaces for recreation, events, and community engagement, making Jessie Davis Park a vibrant hub for all ages.
2024 Class IV Gold Medal Recipient
