Cameo Garrett Full Circle Communications Submitted: February 7, 2019

Westside Park at Bellwood

Meeting: Westside Park at Bellwood Quarry Public Information Meeting

Date and Time: January 31, 2019 - 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Location: Grove Park Recreation Center 750 Francis Pl NW, Atlanta, GA 30318

Meeting purpose: Public information meeting discussed the initial phase of the Westside Park at Bellwood Quarry project, including project history, timeline, and proposed next steps of the park planning process. This is the first of a series of public meetings to provide information and seek community input.

Agenda: • Introductions / Welcome – Commissioner John Dargle (City of Atlanta Department

of Parks and Recreation) • Project History and Overview – Clara Kwon (City of Atlanta Department of Parks

and Recreation) • RFP Review Process – Deputy Commissioner Alvin Dodson (City of Atlanta

Department of Parks and Recreation) • Park Program Elements – Bob Hughes (HGOR) • Pump Station Project Update – Christina Cruz-Benton (City of Atlanta Department

of Watershed Management) • Initial Construction Phase – William Reeves (Reeves Young Construction) • Next Steps – Commissioner Dargle and Bob Hughes • Q&A

Approximate Number of Attendees: 70 attendees signed in. Thirteen comment cards were received. Most of the attendees who signed in reside within three miles of the park. Several commenters expressed excitement over the project, stating that it is well-needed in the community. Also thanked team for hosting meeting to engage the public.

Elected Officials Present: Councilmember Dustin Hillis, District 9, Atlanta City Council

Key concerns and questions:

1. Why will the quarry not be open to the public for water recreation (swimming, kayaking, etc.)?

2. Desire for the park to be less recreational and more bucolic. Most Atlanta parks are recreational or have sports activities. One of the distinct assets of this

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area is its feeling of remoteness, its natural beauty and the feeling of being miles outside of the city.

3. There needs to be a focus on park access to surrounding communities and an access point to the south to Grove Park. This needs to be part of Phase 1. Also need for an entrance and sidewalks on Johnson Road and Habershal Drive as well as clean-ups along Johnson Rd.

4. Consider safe pedestrian access from neighborhoods, specifically Howell Station. West Marietta Boulevard is a high-traffic corridor so a pedestrian bridge over the roadway is suggested or some other type of safe connector.

5. Clean-ups along Proctor Creek should be accelerated so that visitors can enjoy the view from park and thus are likely to return.

6. What about affordable housing? Can City Planning and Zoning regularly attend these meetings?

7. What systems will be in place to ensure that legacy residents are not displaced because of the park?

8. Why is the southern side in Phase 2 and not prioritized? The area needs amenities and needs to be taken seriously and not as an afterthought.

Other Suggestions:

1. Build a light wall on one side of the quarry with multiple level observation decks. Install very thick glass viewing stations so that tourists can see marine life in the quarry day and night for a fee as potential revenue generator.

2. Install a “sunken ship” as a marine life habitat and for viewing pleasure, if permitted by Homeland Security.

3. Consider future utilization of quarry for a profitable dive school opportunity, if permitted by Homeland Security.

4. Integrate a network of hiking and mountain-biking trails around the quarry through existing forests that connect to Proctor Creek greenway trails.

5. Multiple entrances and spurs for community engagement and ownership.

6. An outdoor gym area with resistance equipment (think a jungle gym for adults)

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7. Develop an overall plan that can be broken into phases to ensure an equitable distribution of resources and attractions.

8. Additional recreational activities: pool, concerts, playground, children’s camps, dog park, splash pond

9. Bike and scooter rentals

10.Picnic areas and pavilion for rent to public; food vendors throughout the park.

Next steps: City of Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation Communications Manager and Project Manager to meet with Full Circle Communications Representative to discuss public outreach strategies moving forward including the development of communications plan.

Communications team and Project Manager to meet and discuss planning for second public information meeting, tentatively scheduled for March 7. Location to be determined.

Project team will convene an advisory group consisting of residents, business owners and other key stakeholders in the community to provide input into the park’s planning process.

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