Park Pride Conference 2016 Parks & Play: A Conversation for All Ages

“HOW TO MAKE YOUR VISION OF PLAY A REALITY”

“HOW TO MAKE YOUR VISION OF PLAY A REALITY”

• Daniel Calvert, City of Atlanta Parks & Recreation Office of Park Design

• Kimberly Kleiber, Friends of Ormond-Grant Park

• Veronica Squires, Friends of Reverend James Orange Park

• Judy Hammock, Friends of Lake Claire Park

“HOW TO MAKE YOUR VISION OF PLAY A REALITY”

• You are the experts on your park & creating your vision of play! – *However…there is a process for creating your vision…

“HOW TO MAKE YOUR VISION OF PLAY A REALITY”

• Steering Committee #1 • Public Meeting #1 • Steering Committee #2 • Public Meeting #2 • Friends of the Park • Neighborhood • NPU (Neighborhood Planning Unit) • Park Design Review • Urban Design Commission • *City Council Ordinance (Master Plan Only) • Design Documents • Permitting • Construction • Ribbon Cutting

DISCOVERY AND STEERING

• Assemble Decision Makers and Identify Your Champions – Start with a Steering Committee process…

• Ask Questions, Identify Issues, Strengths, Needs, Opportunities to Frame and Define your Vision of Play.

TAKE IT PUBLIC AND FIND YOUR COMMON GROUND

(VISIONING) • Prepare for dissention and disagreement…good exchange of

different views and passionate ideas will create a quality vision

• Don’t be afraid of the public or your own neighborhood groups and organizations…

• Create buy-in and consensus…advocacy is important to making your vision a reality.

• Know your neighbors and Make it Fun to participate!

Presentation and Review (Formal Vision Refinement)

• Approach Groups and Organizations – Very succinctly describe your process and request a review for input and

comments.

– Seek Approval

• This can be a organizational letter, a formal vote or just the documentation of input and presentation to the organization or group.

Vision Approval And Planning

Take your hard work and advocacy to the authorities…

• Park Design Permitting and Review

• Urban Design Commission Review and Comment

• Prepare yourself but don’t let paperwork and procedure stop your vision of play from becoming a reality

• Utilize City and Park Pride Staff

Advocacy and Fundraising

Making Your Vision of Play A Reality.

• Utilize your resources

• Fundraise

• Leverage

• Advocate

• Implement

• Communicate – Use your vision to speak their language

Neighborhood-Planners-Politicians

Kimberly Kleiber

ormondgrantpark@gpna.org

History & Background

Peoplestown

Summerhill Grant Park

State of the park

State of the park

Design Process

4 phases

PHASE 1: CITY-FUNDED PLAYGROUND,

RAILING, WALKWAY AND WALL

PHASE 2: CITY-FUNDED ADA-SIDEWALK

PHASE 3: FRIENDS-FUNDED RAIN

GARDEN BIOSWALE AND STAIRCASE

PHASE 4: FRIENDS-FUNDED

BEAUTIFICATION

Communication & Fundraising

Outcomes & Takeaways

•Be flexible

•Ask questions

•Dream big

Outcomes & Takeaways

Outcomes & Takeaways

Outcomes & Takeaways

Kimberly Kleiber

ormondgrantpark@gpna.org

A Story of How One Neighborhood Transformed Our Park

Our Mission

The mission of the Friends of Rev. James Orange Park at Oakland City is to serve as an advocate for the care, maintenance, and enhancement of the park as a community park. RJOP’s aim is to make sure the grounds, facilities, and programs of the park are worthy of being viewed as important community assets, worthy of being a destination site for community.

Our Process • Strategic partnership with Park Pride

(Visioning Process)

• 16 Residents on Steering Committee

• 6 Public Meetings

• 4 Steering Committee Meetings

• Partners: Park Pride, City of Atlanta, OCCO, NPU S, Finch Elementary, Orange Family, Cathedral of Faith, Local & Outside Donors

• Community Fundraising (Movie Night & Game Night) & direct solicitations

• Continued Advocacy with Local City Leadership (2012-2015)

Our Outcomes

$100,000 Legacy Grant from Park Pride

Additional Park Pride Funds of $100,000+

$2.5 million from City of Atlanta

New pool, bath house, playground, splash pad, landscaping, roads, lights, etc.

A safe, beautiful park that is the pride of Oakland City

Make sure community

members involved realize the vision will not be realized overnight

Engage a grant writer early on who can help you craft your story

Dream big & be persistent

Our Lessons Learned

Finish the Vision!

7+ million total plan

Partner with Park Pride & City of Atlanta again to improve recreation center (Teen Center) & Teen programs

Next Steps

Lake Claire Park Judy Hammock

• Introduction & Background of Neighborhood

Lake Claire Park

• State of the Park

Lake Claire Park

• Public Engagement, Community Involvement

• & Communication

Lake Claire Park • Fundraising

“HOW TO MAKE YOUR VISION OF PLAY A REALITY”

• The Process Varies

• Be Flexible

• Utilize City and Park Pride resources

• Use this conference as an opportunity to become an expert on your vision of play!