Douglasville Impact - Spring 2020

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MAYOR’S GREETING As we progress further into 2020, I know we are all anticipating the warmth and color that is on the seasonal horizon. Soon, with the help of the Public Services department and Keep Douglasville Beautiful, we will be bursting with color all around the City of Douglasville!

Spring is one of my favorite times of year, and Spring 2020 is no exception. We have a big improvement project underway with the I-20/Fairburn Road beautification project. The city has contracted Russell Landscape Contractors, LLC to help beautify the area and ensure that it drains properly so there are no flooding issues.

This will make for a gorgeous and welcoming gateway into our community!

Spring also allows us to get back outdoors. Our Parks and Recreation department will be green once again. This includes West Pines Golf Course! The greens have been kept up throughout the winter season and are just about ready for tee times!

Please join us as we head back toward warm weather and outdoor fun. I encourage you to visit one of our many parks or take a stroll downtown. I look forward to seeing you and your family!

Mayor Rochelle Robinson City of Douglasville

The Douglasville Welcome Center located on Veterans Memorial Highway adjacent to O’Neal Plaza, has recently re-opened with brand new amenities and offerings for visitors who pass through Douglasville. The Welcome Center began with a first renovation phase in 2017, but the latest renovation completed this year has everything needed to welcome folks back in. The center funded by the Transportation Enhancement Grant, has contributed to some beautiful new changes such as: new public restrooms and new signage inside and outside the building. However, to maintain the historic charm the building possesses, the original ceilings, windows and fireplace are all still intact. The Welcome Center officially re-opened with a ribbon cutting on October 17, 2019.

The current location of the Douglasville Welcome Center was originally home to Douglasville Banking Company. Built in 1904, the building is beautifully constructed of Chattanooga pressed brick with marble trimming.

The Douglasville Welcome Center should be your first stop when traveling through our cozy city. Through the welcome center, visitors can plan their trip in Douglasville and other sites in GA, they can gather a list of local restaurants, purchase post cards and also participate in fun activities that the welcome center staff hosts for those that come through. It’s all in the name of fun as well as getting visitors and residents alike excited about the City of Douglasville.

2020 is going to be a big year for the City of Douglasville with the launch of the Town Green project, park renovations, the Highway 92 relocation and many more!

In the interest of being intentional about our slogan “Impact That Matters”, the Community Relations department will be rolling out Discover Douglasville, a year-long video series for social media that aims to educate citizens about the inner workings of local government. The series will answer your questions about our community.

New videos will be released each month that spotlight a certain city/county department or employee to answer your submitted questions about how Douglasville works.

Be ready to check out this video series on the City of Douglasville Facebook page, YouTube channel, and on our website at www.douglasvillega.gov/discoverdouglasville.

Clips from the series will also be featured on our Instagram page.

Do you have a question that you would like to ask about the City of Douglasville?

What are the differences between the city and the county and how do they collaborate and work together? Where do I pay citations? What is a ward and which one do I live in?

How do I apply for a business license? Which parks are in the city and which are in the county? Can I bring my dog to the park? When is the new amphitheater going to open?

Send us your questions and discover everything you ever wanted to know about our community and how your government works for you.

Questions@DouglasvilleGA.gov

H U N T E R PA R K U P D AT E S While the Park’s Master Plan implementation will begin with modifications to three of our seven park inventory, several changes are anticipated for Hunter Memorial Park as well.

The conversion of two baseball fields into multi-purpose fields is scheduled for 2020.

These field conversions will help to expand the athletic programs offered at the park. The demand for a Lacrosse League and other alternative recreation programs has driven the need for modifications to the park fields and their usage. Basketball is also an additional

recreation opportunity planned for Hunter Park. A multi-purpose track and fitness equipment around the pond is slated to be installed to provide additional leisure options at the park. The catch and release public fishing amenity at the pond remains in place.

Along with these new additions, Hunter Park offers an 18 hole disc golf course, adaptive ball fields, a play area for youngsters and a community center that houses a wide range of programs for all ages.

The City is enthused to have the Parks Master Plan unfold with wonderful additions and provide more space to play, more space to embrace fun and more space for families to enjoy the outdoors this spring season.

The City of Douglasville’s Parks and Recreation department contains an inventory of seven parks, with West Pines Golf Course included in that number. Many of these parks are located north of I-20 and includes several smaller, neighborhood parks: Mill Village Park, Willing Workers Community Club Park, and Worthan Park. Additionally, there are two larger parks that service the community as a whole: Hunter Memorial Park and Jessie G. Davis Memorial Park.

The amenities offered by these parks are numerous and range from playground equipment to athletic fields, picnic areas, walking/running tracks, gazebos, a public pool, disc golf, athletic programs, healthy living education, arts and crafts and more. Douglasville parks are currently in transition under the Parks Master Plan. This plan includes a major redesign of three parks: Jessie Davis, Mill Village, and Willing Workers. Those redesign projects have begun and will take some time to fully complete.

Two other major city projects will also affect the current design and amenities available. The Northside

Redevelopment and Downtown Master Plans will create pathways and connectivity solutions that will allow for easier pedestrian access to many of the city parks. Further, the new amphitheater will also incorporate a large green space that will look, feel, and function as a city park right in the downtown area.

Pathways will also be created to allow for further exercise and outdoor recreation.

There is so much more to discover about the Douglasville Parks and Recreation Department.

For more information, log onto www.DouglasvilleGA.gov or join the Parks & Rec group on the city’s Facebook page. As always, our Parks and Recreation department encourages everyone to get outside and get active!

Spring City Events Calendar February 21st Keep Douglasville Beautiful Arbor Day Celebration Douglas County High School 9AM-2PM

March 28th 3rd Annual Community Enrichment Day Public Safety Complex 10AM-4PM

April 4th Breakfast with the Easter Bunny Hunter Memorial Park 9AM-12PM 14th Douglasville Police Department Town Hall Meeting Public Safety Complex 6:30PM 24th Ultimate Block Party Downtown Douglasville

25th Keep Douglasville Beautiful Spring Recycling Event First Prebyterian Church 9AM-2PM 27th-30th Spring Clean-Up Week (Curbside Recycling)

May 3rd-9th National Travel & Tourism Week 2020

9th Mill Village Spring Cookout Mill Village Park 2PM-4PM 16th Kids to Park Day Hunter Memorial Park 16th Taste of Douglasville Downtown Douglasville

PARKS INFORMATION Fowler Field Park

3270 Chapel Hill Rd Douglasville, GA 30135

Hunter Memorial Park 8830 Gurley Rd Douglasville, GA 30134

Jessie G. Davis Memorial Park

7775 Malone St Douglasville, GA 30134

Mill Village Park

8320 Grady St Douglasville, GA 30134

Willing Workers Community Club Park 8085 Thompson St Douglasville, GA 30134

Worthan Park

Parker St Douglasville, GA 30134

Stay up to date on all the local events.

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FROM THE CITY MANAGER’S DESK As you’ve learned from this issue of the Newsletter, our Parks and Recreation Department has been working hard to ensure that we are focused on providing opportunities and amenities that are fun, healthy, and secure for all Douglasville residents.

The department has already addressed some of the items in the Parks Master Plan—like the restroom renovation at Jessie Davis—but remains steadfast in bringing some of the major redesigns to life. Very soon, Jessie Davis, Mill Village, and Willing Workers parks will all have a different design and functionality. If you haven’t been involved in any of the public input meetings that have been held, I encourage you to do so.

The other major focus of the Parks Department in 2020 is the CAPRA Accreditation. The importance of achieving accreditation cannot be understated. Among other things, it launches the Douglasville Parks and Recreation system onto the national stage. With accreditation comes opportunities for new, longterm programming, and affords us options to bring major sports competitions to our Hunter Park ball fields. While on its surface, this may not seem like a big deal, it has a major impact on our local economy.

These national tournaments bring in hundreds, possibly even thousands, of visitors to our city each year.

Those groups will stay in our hotels, shop at Arbor Place mall, and eat in our restaurants. In short, they will spend their money here. This can help us, as a city, attract employers and future development.

We really look forward to the Spring season here in Douglasville. I encourage you and your families to take advantage of our parks system. Visit our community parks—Hunter Park and Jessie Davis Park— play a round of golf at West Pines or visit our many neighborhood parks. For more information on park locations and programming, visit our website at www.DouglasvilleGA.gov.

It’s the time of year to be Clean’n & Green’n!

The Douglas County Board of Education recently partnered with Keep Douglasville Beautiful for a big green project at Douglas County High School. Eleven of the trees on that campus were recently removed since they had become hazardous. On Martin Luther King National Day, the two groups, along with volunteers, planted 57 trees to green up the campus once again. Come help us celebrate the ribbon cutting for this beautiful new community forest on February 21st, the 50th anniversary of Arbor Day! Also, don’t forget the “clean’n” part of this time of year! Saturday April 25th will be our spring recycling event in the parking lot of the First Presbyterian Church. If it plugs in, uses batteries or has metal content you can bring it and we’ll get rid of it. There is a small $5 fee for each tv or monitor.

This event will also kick off our city wide clean up week. During this week on your scheduled pick-up date, you can set out furniture, building materials, paint cans that have been solidified with kitty litter and any other junk that it’s time to let go of.

Sorry, no tires, batteries, large car parts or tree limbs larger than 5ft or 6in in diameter can be accepted. Be sure and follow us on Facebook for more details on these events.

Coffee Shop

MILL VILLAGE PARK UPDATE

I n t e r v i e w s

Mill Village Park, situated in the center of the Mill Village community, has been a staple in Douglasville for many years. This passive neighborhood park will be the first to see renovation upgrades outlined in the Parks Master Plan. Two additional parks, Jessie Davis and Willing Workers Community Club Park are scheduled for upgrade work in 2020 as part of a three park renovation effort.

(7 EA) FIELDSTONE STEPPERS BY STONE DISTRIBUTORS, LLC 1675 BELLS FERRY RD, MARIETTA, GA 30066 (678.354.0566).

The restored Mill Village Park is slated to be open and ready for the community to play again in early 2020. (+/-725 LF) 3.5' HT 2-RAIL WOOD FENCE. SEE DETAIL 1,2/L1.01

STEEL TUBE ARBOR WITH 8' RADIUS. ATTACHED TO FOOTINGS PER MANUFACTURE'S RECOMMENDATION.

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(8 EA) LARGE FIELDSTONE BOULDERS BY STONE DISTRIBUTORS, LLC 1675 BELLS FERRY RD, MARIETTA, GA 30066 (678.354.0566). FIELD VERIFY BOULDER LOCATIONS.

(1 EACH) HILL SLIDE BY EARTHPLAY AS BASIS OF DESIGN. COLOR TO BE RED. MEDIUM DOUBLE SLIDE, 3' HIGH.

PLAYGROUND. SEE L1.01 AND L1.02 FOR DETAILS.

PLAYGROUND. WOOD FIBER MULCH PLAYGROUND SURFACE. DEPTH TO BE DETERMINED BY MANUFACTURER OF PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT.

4' DEPTH CONCRETE. CONCRETE TO BE BROOM FINISHED. ALL CONCRETE TO BE 4000 PSI.

T 770.952.2481

What part of the Master Plan do you find most exciting?

WATTS: The new Town Green area. I love the idea of a park in the heart of our downtown! I can see in my minds eye families enjoying the park on a Saturday, maybe even having a picnic, throwing the Frisbee. I also love the idea this space will house an Amphitheater which I’m sure will get a lot of action. I would like to see our high schools using it to perform band concerts. But I’m just as excited to see improvements to all of the parks and the new amenities they will provide in serving our local neighborhoods.

GMCNETWORK.COM

(2 EA) LARGE FIELDSTONE BOULDERS BY STONE DISTRIBUTORS, LLC 1675 BELLS FERRY RD, MARIETTA, GA 30066 (678.354.0566). FIELD VERIFY BOULDER LOCATIONS.

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DRAWN BY:

20" HT STONE SEAT WALL. STONE TO BE ALABAMA BROWN SQUARE RUBBLE #21 BY ALABAMA WHOLESALE STONE AS BASIS OF DESIGN. SEE DETAILS 3/4/L1.01.

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CHECKED BY: JB

SHADE SAIL USASHADE AS BASIS OF DESIGN. MOUNTED AT 15' HT. COLOR TOP BE RED COLOURSHADE FR FABRIC. POLES TO BE POWDER COATED RED.

What are some of the major changes you have seen take place in the City parks over the years?

WATTS: Of course I was not on Council when Hunter Park was improved but my goal is to see the same level of improvements made to Jessie Davis and several of our parks on the north side.

(3 EACH) TRASH RECEPTACLES TO BE BEVEL LITTER RECEPTACLE (SLBVL-122A) BY FORMS+SURFACES AS BASIS OF DESIGN. SURFACE MOUNTED. LOCATION TO BE FIELD VERIFIED WITH OWNER.

72" PICNIC TABLES TO BE KNIGHT TABLE ENSEMBLE BY FORM+SURFACES AS BASIS OF DESIGN. TABLE AND BENCHES TO BE SURFACE MOUNTED. (3 EACH) STKNI-72NA AND (1 EACH) STKNI-72NA-ADA. ALUMINUM TEXTURE COATED FRAME AND SLATS. PAVILION TO BE 22'X40' CHELSEA CLERESTORY GABLE ROOF BY POLIGON. 4' HT STONE COLUMNS TO WRAP STEEL FRAME COLUMNS. STONE TO BE ALABAMA BROWN SQUARE RUBBLE. FRAME TO BE POWDER COATED PATRICIAN BRONZE. STANDING SEAM METAL ROOF COLOR TO BE SILVER.

GMC# CATL190035 NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION

(1 EACH) HILL SLIDE BY EARTHPLAY AS BASIS OF DESIGN. COLOR TO BE RED. MEDIUM DOUBLE SLIDE, 3' HIGH.

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6120 Powers Ferry Rd. NW

The renovation plans designed by GoodwynnlMillslCawood (GMC) have maintained its quaint community passive park feel, which was important to the Parks Director and city leaders.

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Atlanta, GA 30339

(5 EACH) 6' LENGTH BENCHES TO BE ALUMINUM KNIGHT BENCH, BACKED (SBKNI-072BA) BY FORM+SURFACES AS BASIS OF DESIGN. FRAME AND SLATS TO BE ALUMINUM TEXTURE. SURFACE MOUNTED. BENCHES TO BE ON A 10' LENGTH X 30" WIDTH X 4" DEPTH, 4000 PSI CONCRETE SLAB.

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ISSUE DATE

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100% CDS 09/27/2019

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What level of support did you see during the public involvement phase?

WATTS: The citizens that came were very supportive of what we are trying to do. I felt most everyone saw the City’s effort to improve our parks.

Some of the suggestions as to what they wanted for our parks will make our parks second to none.

DOUGLASVILLE, GEORGIA

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As the Committee Chair for Recreation, Tourism, and Culture, how involved have you been in the Parks Master Plan process?

WATTS: I attended most of the Town Hall meetings. I was impressed with the input given by the citizens. Travis Landrum’s leadership has been great. I feel really good about the process to this point.

MILL VILLAGE PARK

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Located at the corner of Grady and Cooper Streets, the design concept for this .98 acre park is to keep its neighborhood charm and connection to the local area. The upgrades call for a completely new layout of the parks amenities along with the addition of unique community focused features. A new playground will be installed in a safer location in the park. Plans also call for a walking path, park bench seating throughout the park and a landscaping barrier and shade structure. A new pavilion for family gatherings will be built and fruit trees will be planted within the landscape design allowing for the start of a community gardening project.

We sat down with Councilman Chris “Coach” Watts to discuss the Parks Master Plan. Here’s what he had to say.

DOUGL

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The Douglasville City Council ROCHELLE ROBINSON Mayor 678-449-3000 robinsonr@douglasvillega.gov

NYCOLE MILLER Ward 2, Post 1 678-449-3012 millern@douglasvillega.gov

DR. LASHUN BURR-DANLEY Ward 3, Post 1

678-449-3006 danleyl@douglasvillega.gov

COACH CHRIS WATTS Ward 4

678-449-3014 wattsc@douglasvillega.gov

TERRY S. MILLER Ward 1 678-449-3002 millert@douglasvillega.gov

MARK ADAMS Ward 2, Post 2

678-449-3004 adamsm@douglasvillega.gov

SAM DAVIS Ward 3, Post 2

678-449-3007 daviss@douglasvillega.gov

HOWARD M. ESTES Ward 5 678-449-3010 estesh@douglasvillega.gov

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