Dunwoody Reporter
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At the top
Sky isn’t falling PDK addresses residents’ fears COMMUNITY 3
www.ReporterNewspapers.net
MAY 29 — JUNE 11, 2015 • VOL. 6 — NO. 11
Perimeter Business PAGES 7-11
Go forth and conquer
VALS & SALS 16-17
City approves $4 million parks bond settlement with DeKalb BY ELLEN ELDRIDGE
elleneldridge@reporternewspapers.net
Salutatorian Catriona Geddes addresses her fellow graduates from Dunwoody High School at commencement exercises at North DeKalb Stadium on May 21. See additional photos of local public and private high school graduations on pages18-19.
PHIL MOSIER
A long-standing court battle over park funds concluded May 26 with Dunwoody City Council’s approval of a $4 million settlement with DeKalb County. DeKalb County will make a one-time $3.2 million grant to Dunwoody to be used toward the construction and development of the 5-acre Dunwoody Renaissance Park. Additionally, the county will grant $500,000 toward updating the city’s master plan for parks and green space projects, and the county will grant $300,000 for construction of a great lawn at Brook Run Park. According to city officials, $11.5 million was promised for Brook Run Park to DeKalb County voters in 2005 as part of a $96-million bond package. The county spent $4 million on the park, city officials said. Councilman Doug Thompson thanked the commissioners, lawyers, mediators, Interim DeKalb CEO Lee May and “everybody who was involved in this” for coming together and approving the agreement. The SEE CITY APPROVES, PAGE 20
Need an egg? In the Georgetown neighborhood, just send a text BY ELLEN ELDRIDGE
elleneldridge@reporternewspapers.net
Mark Thompson said he moved from Sandy Springs to the Georgetown neighborhood in Dunwoody 14 years ago to find easy access to major highways, good schools and a serene environment. “I love the leafy neighborhoods,” Thompson said. His three children are age 9 and younger, and Thompson said he’s sure they will all enjoy biking along soon-to-be-completed multiuse trails in their community. They already use one in Brook Run Park, where they also plan to check out the new zip line courses. In 2013, Georgetown got the city’s first new park since Dunwoody incorporated in 2008. The 16-acre parcel sits between ChambleeDunwoody and North Shallowford roads, and
features an open playing field, gazebo and regulation-size Bocce courts. Georgetown Park will soon connect to Brook Run Park’s multi-use trail, which opened in 2013 and added the second phase in 2014. The trail allows Where You residents to walk, jog or bike the Live nearly two-mile loop, and will soon connect to Georgetown Park, adding about another mile to the trail. “It’s a very friendly area, people are social and like to get together,” Thompson said about his community. “It’s been a great place to live.” A decade ago, after Lyndsey Pearson moved to Georgetown with her husband and almost 2-year-old son, she and five other moms started a playgroup. SEE NEED, PAGE 20
Lyndsey Pearson, with daughters Adelyn, left, and Riley, has lived in the Georgetown neighborhood since 2005. She describes the area as a 1950s-style community with modern touches. Pearson and her husband thought their 3-bedroom, 2-bath home would just be a starter place, but after home improvements and building neighborhood relationships, there are no plans to move. ELLEN ELDRIDGE