Mission...Playpark in SoWal!!

[organicmama]

Hey! I am a bit late in posting to this, but wanted to chime in!

Public playgrounds is the ONLY thing that our family misses from Metro ATL... everything else, we happily left behind! I am at the point of simply heading down to Butler today to let them play on the equipment there, even though 5 year old River is freaking out about not having permission! CKHagen and I had talked about this subject on the MDC message boards.

PLEASE count us in on the plans, as having 3 kiddos who need to run off energy, although 1 is still not mobile, yet. I have not found the Morgan Sports Complex Park, although I have not looked very much. We have gone to the play area at Destin Commons (definitely not a playground!) and 1 over by the Red Lobster in FWB, which we are not going back there. Zoe fell in the creek, under a retraining wall, among other things.

I'd be happy to join the meetings and get involved with the plans for a playground. We can help with a number of areas of involvement, including planning & fundraising. If someone wants to PM me about it, please feel free to do so.

 

[supermom262]

Organicmama, Have you been to Webb Bridge Park? I think it is in Alpharetta I visited there and absolutely loved that park! Not having been to the Destin Park, I don't know how this compares. I believe Coca Cola was the main sponsor of the park, but it has been awhile since I have been. It was fabulous - running trails, incredible playground equipment, a sundial you used your body for, musical pipes, and a waterway that was the most interesting design (where all the younger kids were hanging out). I saw that they also had family sponsors, pre-schools, businesses but I don't think they were bricks. I remember thinking that it was a great idea.
I'm not sure what our plan of attack should be -other than we should all go to the Park meeting on Feb 12. Should we start with a signed petition of people who would like a park, what they would like to have there and if they would be willing to be a sponsor and have that filled out before the meeting? We should try to set up a meeting for next week when everyone
who has posted can come. I'll just say I can't do Mon, Tues or Fri before 1:00 but Thurs is good until 2:00 Any afternoon works after school, I'll just have kids with me!
As far as existing land goes, I'm not sure what the land the Cindy's Ass't referred to as the Goverment Education Center. Does anyone know what this is?

 

[SGB]

As far as existing land goes, I'm not sure what the land the Cindy's Ass't referred to as the Goverment Education Center. Does anyone know what this is?

Hi Supermom26.2! The Government Education Center is the area around the County Courthouse Annex, Library, SW High School. Hey, I saw you on our SGB street today!

 

[supermom262]

Hi Supermom26.2! The Government Education Center is the area around the County Courthouse Annex, Library, SW High School. Hey, I saw you on our SGB street today!

Thanks. I thought it was over there, I just have never heard it referred to as the Government Education Center. I think that area would be great for a park. My only concern about Helen McCall is that a traffic light needs to be at the intersection of Moll and 98. You take your life in your hands at 5:00 pm making a left turn. With increased traffic, it would be crazy!
Are you up for starting a park?

I didn't see you today but saw your hubby! We were driving around looking at houses! The usual!

 

[InletBchDweller]

I am in on trying to organize a play park. Please let me know when a meeting is scheduled....I also know of some developers who may want to donate but I will not ask them until it is needed....

 

[organicmama]

Organicmama, Have you been to Webb Bridge Park? I think it is in Alpharetta I visited there and absolutely loved that park! Not having been to the Destin Park, I don't know how this compares. I believe Coca Cola was the main sponsor of the park, but it has been awhile since I have been. It was fabulous - running trails, incredible playground equipment, a sundial you used your body for, musical pipes, and a waterway that was the most interesting design (where all the younger kids were hanging out). I saw that they also had family sponsors, pre-schools, businesses but I don't think they were bricks. I remember thinking that it was a great idea.

We actually moved from Alpharetta here! Yes, I went to Webb Bridge Park many times. They used the wood on the fences as sponsorship. Coca-Cola was a big sponsor. Wills Park (built like a castle) used major sponsors, like Cousins Properties (developed most of Alpharetta and was the designer of the old Omni) and UPS. I REALLY didn't like Alpharetta (WAY TOO CROWDED), but loved the availability of really cool parks:clap_1: ... although in that area, driving 10 miles could take you an hour because of traffic.

The one thing my three year old always asks for is to go to a PARK! She's pretty upset that there aren't any here. I am completely on board for getting this done, if only just for her sake!

A resource about how to get stoplights up on 98 and Moll would be Ed at For the Health of It. From what I know, he was instrumental in getting stoplights up on 98 after a fatal accident a few years ago. I can find out if I need to.

I am up for a meeting, but I always have at least 2 kids with me, 3 if after school!

Also, what about some sort of benefit to help raise the $$$$$? If we could have it there at the park, it might bring more people. I can possibly donate an acoustic duo, but I'd have to know it was a go before I do.

AND what about getting local businesses and restaurants to donate like 3% of their profits for a designated day of the month for a specific amount of time to raise funds? I was thinking like Whole Foods or Earth Fare does for donating to charities. They do it on Tuesdays (Earth Fare) or Wednesdays (Whole Foods), but I would say a Friday or Saturday here because of the off-season and restaurants get more biz on the weekends right now.

 

[tistheseason]

Some residents were dissappointed in the number of play parks in our area - near Atlanta. They got together and we ended up with a great park. Check out the website www.eastcobbpark.org It started with a grass roots efforts similar to the one you guys are organizing. And is now our FAVORITE park!! It might be helpful to contact the organizers (from the website) and pick their brains.

Here is a summary of their story:

In 1998, a group of individuals associated with the East Cobb Area Council of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce joined together to form the non-profit Friends for the East Cobb Park. Their unifying vision was to create a passive Park that would serve as a community gathering place. Their goal was to raise funds sufficient to purchase an appropriate property and deed it to Cobb County who would develop and maintain the Park.

Almost from the beginning, the Friends enjoyed the support of Cobb County Government. The County?s public acknowledgment of the Friends? mission added credibility to the effort and their challenge and commitment to support the project allowed the formation of a powerful Public-Private Partnership.

Working as a team, Cobb County and Friends for the East Cobb Park funded the professional design of the park, which includes open grass fields, walking trails, stream overlooks, a ?destination? playground, picnic pavilions, an outdoor classroom and one of the nicest outdoor stage areas in the region.

Construction of this initial phase began in 2002, and the official Dedication Ceremony was held on June 28, 2003. The East Cobb Park was an immediate success in the community, and has surpassed both Cobb County?s and the Friends? greatest expectations for attendance and public satisfaction.

 

[organicmama]

East Cobb Park wasn't far from us, either! It's a really great park, too!

Some residents were dissappointed in the number of play parks in our area - near Atlanta. They got together and we ended up with a great park. Check out the website www.eastcobbpark.org It started with a grass roots efforts similar to the one you guys are organizing. And is now our FAVORITE park!! It might be helpful to contact the organizers (from the website) and pick their brains.

Here is a summary of their story:

In 1998, a group of individuals associated with the East Cobb Area Council of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce joined together to form the non-profit Friends for the East Cobb Park. Their unifying vision was to create a passive Park that would serve as a community gathering place. Their goal was to raise funds sufficient to purchase an appropriate property and deed it to Cobb County who would develop and maintain the Park.

Almost from the beginning, the Friends enjoyed the support of Cobb County Government. The County?s public acknowledgment of the Friends? mission added credibility to the effort and their challenge and commitment to support the project allowed the formation of a powerful Public-Private Partnership.

Working as a team, Cobb County and Friends for the East Cobb Park funded the professional design of the park, which includes open grass fields, walking trails, stream overlooks, a ?destination? playground, picnic pavilions, an outdoor classroom and one of the nicest outdoor stage areas in the region.

Construction of this initial phase began in 2002, and the official Dedication Ceremony was held on June 28, 2003. The East Cobb Park was an immediate success in the community, and has surpassed both Cobb County?s and the Friends? greatest expectations for attendance and public satisfaction.

 

[Beachmom]

You guys are amazing:clap_1: ! Grayt job on all the research, now I just need to catch up....lunch anyone??? Wouldn't an afternoon picnic at a playpark be grayt?????

 

[ckhagen]

I'm back from N.O.
Saturday night at the Hilton was pretty wild, but I was lucky to get a room at all on that late of notice. :funn:

Wow... it's cold outside. When should we meet? Is there a warmer day coming any time soon? My face feels frozen solid. Being born and raised in LA/FL makes me think anything less than 70 degrees warrants a coat and long johns.