New bridge connects Medlock Park to Scott Circle greenspace

Scott Circle Lots master plan

Sometimes it seems like nothing's happening but persistence pays off. In particular when you have good folks who keep on keeping on!

Back in 2014, we started hearing about the County's plan to purchase floodplain properties on Scott Circle, with the lots to be converted to greenspace. In 2015, several houses were demolished and the greenspace started taking shape. With community input and support from Druid Hills Youth Sports and the Medlock Area Neighborhood Association (MANA), a vision for this greenspace was agreed upon. In subsequent years, dozens of trees were planted and in 2017-2018, a Park Pride grant came through to build the first of two bridges that will connect Medlock Park to the Scott Circle lots.

Ta-da! The new bridge.

This week, that first bridge was installed and volunteers gathered on April 13 to begin mulching the first of a series of paths that will make the space more accessible. Our thanks to Ted Ward, MANA Greenspace chair, who has been leading this effort for the last several years. Also thanks to Dave Butler who has been instrumental in this and so many other greenspace projects in our neighborhood (Scott lots, community garden, Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve).

Thanks to all the volunteers who turned up today to chop and haul privet and spread mulch at the new bridge. Soon, additional truckloads of mulch will be delivered so that this first path (that wends its way along the back of the properties) will connect to the park entrance.

Later phases will add a path along the street (since there is no sidewalk) to make it safer for pedestrians to walk along this section of the street.

Two strong men and one smart man clear the area near the park-side
ramp to the new bridge. [Just kidding, it took the three of them to move that downed tree!]

Too far to jump: this creek tributary collects a lot of runoff from nearby areas.

South Peachtree Creek PATH trail update: Emory connector now complete

PATH has published an update on how the South Peachtree Creek Trail is coming closer to connecting to the Emory campus: https://pathfoundation.org/atlanta-regional-trails/south-peachtree-creek-trail-connections/

Emory University will celebrate the opening of campus-side portion of the trail on April 20. There is now a paved PATH section to safely convey  cyclists and pedestrians under Clairmont Road, and a widened sidewalk connecting to the Emory campus.

New path under Clairmont Road and expanded sidewalk along the Emory campus on Clairmont Rd.

A visual recap: green marks the existing South Peachtree Creek PATH that connects Medlock Park to Mason Mill Park and on to North Druid Hills Road. Purple marks the new Emory PATH connector.

Finally, to connect the dots, PATH says that

"The final portion of the trail will connect Old Clairmont Road to Clairmont Place, following South Peachtree Creek along Clairmont Lake before turning along the railroad tracks to follow Burnt Fork Creek as it flows through the Ira B. Melton Park. By the end of this year, Medlock Park, Mason Mill Park and North Druid Hills Road will be connected by trail to both Emory University's main campus and its Clairmont campus."

Friends of Medlock Park meeting [June 28]

We are having a Friends of Medlock Park meeting on Wednesday, June 28 at 7 PM in the clubhouse in the center of the ball fields.

All are welcome to attend!!

We will discuss on-going efforts to honor Lisa's work in the community, our upcoming Park Pride grant proposal and project, a fall clean-up day for the Scott lots, and any other park business. We will be joined by the DHYS President to continue dialogue with the neighborhood and discuss upcoming DHYS projects in the park. Look forward to seeing everyone!

Remembering Lisa Crowder

The Medlock community is saddened at the unexpected passing of Lisa Crowder. An active, longtime resident, in recent years Lisa became a staunch advocate for many neighborhood greenspace projects: she battled weeds encroaching the Willivee bridge and other walkways, joined the Friends of Medlock Park group, and helped push forward the beautification of FEMA floodplain lots on Scott Circle. Lisa also partnered with the International Community School in refugee initiatives and installed Little Libraries. And she ran an epic Facebook group.

In remembrance, friends and neighbors will gather at the kiosk on Medlock Park on Sunday, June 25, 10am.

Friends and neighbors are also organizing the purchase of a commemorative bench to be placed at Medlock Park. If you would like to contribute, please go to https://www.gofundme.com/lisa-crowder-memorial-bench

Update: Decaturish writes about Lisa.

POSTPONED! Little Creek Conservancy: Fun and Picnic

This event has been postponed due to recent rains making the area too boggy for the activities.

See http://littlecreekfarmconservancy.com/LCFC/Home.html for updates.

Notes from Friends of Medlock Park meeting [6/13/16]

notes forwarded by Casey Bordeaux, MANA Greenspace Coordinator

Participants:  Chris Foster, Casey Boudreau, Lisa Crowder, Ted Ward, Dave Butler, Jen Raby,  Joanne Bryan, Barbara Orsich, Katie Curtis

1.     Scott lots

a.     Waiting on update from county on status of bids for demolition for vacant white house – Casey will continue to follow up

b.     993 Scott – not part of FEMA buyout, Commissioner Rader’s office contacted Casey last week that County may be able to buy it to add to existing greenspace. 

                                               i.     Should not be limited by FEMA restrictions on other lots

                                             ii.     Casey will continue to follow up

                                            iii.     Ideas include

1.     Leave driveway to increase parking

2.     Picnic tables

c.     Tree planting

                                               i.     Need to follow up with Fuqua re plans and process, including timeline  – Ted to discuss with Theresa Same

                                             ii.     Dave B to follow up with new County arborist to confirm list of trees

                                            iii.      Start thinking of where to place, on vacant lots as well as in Park

2.     Playground

a.     Group met with Revonda, who is supportive of renovations

b.     Need confirmation of agreement by DHYS as official FOMP contact – Chris will follow up with Revonda

c.     Park Pride can help with fundraising

                                               i.     FOMP playground project will have own page on Park Pride website

                                             ii.     Revonda has list of vendors

                                            iii.     Ideas for fund raising events

1.     Lantern parade

2.     Event at playground

3.     Something at MANA pool party

                                            iv.     DHYS also has FOMP link on its Donate Now page

d.     Need to get going on 1 small, immediate project to

                                               i.     Demonstrate commitment to County & DHYS

                                             ii.     Encourage neighbors to donate and/or participate on future projects

e.     Ideas for small, immediate projects

                                               i.     New trash cans

                                             ii.     Covered benches

3.     DHYS

a.     Met with Comm. Rader

                                               i.     Got ok cover for batting cages, will self fund

                                             ii.     There is money from bond referendum which can use to re-pave inner roads (approx. from where drainage culvert to storage shed).  Have already met with maintenance group and hope work will be done in next couple of months

                                            iii.     Raised $15k from capital campaign which was used to fund survey last year and permitting for new work.

                                            iv.     ADA project will wait

b.     Other ideas from group

                                               i.     Can put sidewalks in, either real ones or just painted lines on side of road

                                             ii.     Can put permanent or moveable objects on wide entrance to playground, to discourage driving

4.     Bulletin board

a.     Chris removed ads – need to put something on it to inform that not meant for advertising

b.     Casey will create banner “Medlock Park News” – update:  done!

5.     Fall projects

a.     River cleanup – Oct?

b.     Park cleanup – usually scheduled in Sep

6.     Other

a.     Can get other planting in park, like azaleas or other shrubs along inner road to further separate playground area 

Protecting Georgia's pollinators

With some humor, the University of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences has released "a state plan for promoting a large, healthy and diverse pollinator workforce (link to pdf)." 

Why focus on pollinators? The plan states that "A 2014 economic impact study by the University of Georgia determined that the annual value of pollination to Georgia is over $360 million." 

Becky Griffin at UGA also offers the following recommendations:

"- If possible leave areas of your property permanently undisturbed for soil-nesting bees. 
- Dedicate pollinator habitat spaces in your garden.
- Know the beekeepers in your area. 
- Educate your gardeners about insect behavior.
- Consider increasing bee nesting sites by providing bee homes.
 - Follow all pesticide label directions and precautionary statements."  
-  If there's a need to apply insecticide for turf pests, mow the grass to remove weed flowers that may attract bees, THEN apply the insecticide. This makes it less likely that beneficial pollinators will be hurt by the insecticide.

For much more info on honeybees, see http://ent.uga.edu/bees/

Notes from Friends of Medlock Park meeting [2/13/16]

notes prepared by Casey Bordeaux, MANA Greenspace Coordinator

Notes from Friends of Medlock Park meeting, 13 Feb 2016:

Review of action points from January meeting (updates in italics):

1.     Identify landscape architect/designer/playground designer to help figure out what can do

a.     Set up working group to provide input (Lisa will coordinate):  Lisa is organizing work group with Jen Raby and Katie Curtis.  Will send information out via existing channels and try to recruit parents with kids who use the playground to provide input.

b.    County is supposed to maintain playground, including replacing mulch on regular basis but inconsistent.  Parks Department budget has been cut in half in recent years and causes inability to provide a lot of necessary maintenance.  County should still respond to actual safety issues. 

c.     Working group will collect list of safety issues with photos and send to Parks Department:  Paige Singer (Supervisor of Maintenance), Revonda Cosby (County liaison to Park Pride), copy Roy Wilson (Director of Parks & Rec), as well as Commissioner Jeff Rader.

2.     Identify and review grant opportunities:  below is link to Park Pride website

a.     http://www.parkpride.org/ home page

b.     http://www.parkpride.org/get-involved/funding-your-park grant opportunities

i.       According to Dave Butler, we could potentially apply for 2 types of grants with Park Pride.  Small grants (up to $2,500) which are awarded throughout the year as well as the large community grants (up to $50k) which are only awarded once per year with deadline in the fall for applications

c.     Create list of items for smaller grant or donation options, like benches or message board to place near playground to display notices of interest to Park users.  MANA could potentially help raise funds for these types of small projects.  Identify possible Eagle Scout projects.  Notify Revonda of any such projects.

3.     Organize cleanup of floodplain lots (debris; undesirable plantings; etc.) – tentatively in Mar 2016 (prior to significant Spring growing season):  possible dates 3/26 or 4/2

a.     Action point:  Casey to contact Dave Butler for assistance:  Dave has agreed to help.  Dave to confirm whether or not 3/26 will work for him.  Consider having monthly events to increase opportunities for neighborhood and user involvement, such as create "Medlock Park Rangers" group

b.    Identify and review grant opportunities:  Casey made contact with Trees Atlanta, need to follow up but could be possible.  Casey sent email requests to Trees Atlanta 2/13.  Further research needed to determine if should apply for grants through Park Pride.

4.     Lots of mud & sand get washed out during rain, hard to clean up (may be coming from Horse Park);  Dave has pursued working on mitigating these issues with the horse park for a number of years without significant progress

a.     Tex to contact Paige at Parks & Rec:  County is supposed to come out next week to power wash PATH (paved area) and other areas to remove mud

5.     Better maintain creekside trail

a.     Action point:  Lisa to contact South Fork Conservancy & Keep DeKalb Beautiful for help  KDB needs 5 day lead time to provide supplies for event.  No response yet from SFC – Dave B is currently working with SFC, which has no Exec Dir.  Suggest plan for fall event (creek usually lower in the Fall), coordinate with Rivers Alive program

b.     Action point:  Identify landscape architect with appropriate expertise who can assist with project.  Table for now.

c.     Action point: Organize cleanup (potentially piggyback with Scott lots clean-up in March 2016) - Suggest change of plan to have fall event instead of Spring (creek usually lower in the Fall), coordinate with Rivers Alive program; Dave Butler has experience organizing creek cleanups (and has relationship with South Fork Conservancy) and he will help in Fall.

i.       More plantings (trees help soak up water)

Dave Butler:  on Parks Community Advisory Board (CAB).  Fuqua (and Selig) owe trees to DeKalb county tree bank due to development.  Tex:  has been informed by Paige that Medlock Park is on the list to get trees but no timeline. Type and size of trees depends on request and location.  He has a plan for the park proper (by PATH and along field in back), will send to Paige and Steve Strickland, County Arborist.  Casey will review with MANA to ensure tree request is on radar for both Selig and Fuqua.  There are no good options to plant trees (for shade) or bushes (to soak up water) near playground.

Consider involving other groups such as trail runners to assist with maintaining creek side trails.  Lisa has Intown Ace gift certificates that could be used as incentives, rewards. 

DHYS:

Update on capital campaign?  Not yet started, still in planning phase of multi year proposal.  There will be a field work day next Sat, 2/20 from 9 am – 1 pm.  Focus is mainly on ball fields and immediate areas, including culvert area near playground and playground itself.  Chris and Tex will be present to organize volunteers, there will be a sign in table and some equipment provided.  Lisa will send out notice of clean-up to Friends of Medlock Park Facebook group and main Medlock Park Neighbors Facebook group to try to get residents to volunteer.

Inquiry about land survey few months ago: DHYS commissioned to mark boundaries for proposed plan to increase compliance with ADA and assist with potential future drainage work.  Lingering plastic ties will be removed during cleanup day, anyone can also remove – please just ensure proper disposal!

MANA:

Update on bids for 979 Scott Circle – vacant white house:  Email from Brian Shoun, DeKalb Flood Management on 2/11:  Still working on it and the demolition date is not set.

Continue to followup with Brian on 979 Scott.  Also discussed flood plain lots on Hunting Valley – KDB is supposed to maintain but inconsistent and inadequate response.  Consider cleanup day, either linked to Scott lots one or other day.  Hanging wires near the community garden are likely phone lines that neither the demolition companies nor the utilities will remove.  As they are not electric, can be removed or at least trimmed during a cleanup day.

Emails from Medlock residents:  

Lights in ball fields:  Are on timer, max is 12 hours which means sometimes could accidentally be on past 11 pm cut off time.  DHYS tries to ensure lights are off before departing, and will investigate replacing some timers to ease manual shut off.  DHYS will provide an after-hours phone number on main light box to report problems, this number will also be shared on MANA web page when made public.

Hazards in the park:  Report any safety issues to FOMP group, DHYS or MANA

Inquiry about dog park:  as previously reported, a dog park is NOT possible in the current MP footprint nor in the Scott lots greenspace due to being in floodplain and close proximity to stream or ditch – law requires 200 foot buffer.  DHYS requested reminder that dogs are NEVER allowed on fields, and both MANA and DHYS remind dog owners to comply with state laws to keep dogs on leash (if caught, ticket can be $200+) and to pick up and properly dispose of poop.

To Stay Informed:

People can find updates relating to the park at:

Friends of Medlock Park Facebook Group -

https://www.facebook.com/groups/friendsofmedlockpark/

can subscribe to for the Friends of Medlock Park email list at:

http://eepurl.com/bQeTrH

Updates are also posted on the MANA web site:

http://www.medlockpark.org

Next Friends of Medlock Park meeting:

Saturday, March 12 at 9:00a at the Clubhouse meeting room in the park