PARK IMPROVEMENTS, UPGRADES & CREATION
Even during the winter months, the city’s parks and Recreation
Department has been busy at work with construction activities and project
planning to make the 2015 spring, summer and fall outdoor enjoyment even more
fun. Several projects have been in the queue and are now ready to be enjoyed by
all while others are just getting started. Here’s a sampling of what’s been
going on and what residents and visitors can look forward to in the coming
months:
Windwood Hollow Receives Makeover
The brand new Windwood Hollow playground structures are in place and offer the young and
young at heart a perfect resource for fun and adventure.
The new playground equipment provides suitable play environments for the 2-5 year old age group, the 5-12 year old age group as well as exercise equipment for adults. The structures also address specific requirements meeting Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards making the park playground one of the area’s first, fully ADA compliant playground facilities. Key additions include an access ramp to the second level of the 5-12 year old play structure. The 11-acre park features a playground, two tennis courts, picnic pavilion, nature trails, and an open meadow for free play. Plan a visit today! |
Treetop Quest Swings Open in March 2015
In late March, visitors to Brook Run Park will be able to reach
new heights of exploration with the addition of the Treetop Quest tree canopy
obstacle course and zip-line adventure.
Seeking to address an identified need for recreational opportunities
for middle- and high-school aged children as outlined in the Parks Master Plan,
the city contracted with the Atlanta-based company specializing in obstacle
courses within established tree canopies.
The new course activates parkland previously unused and its carefully
constructed platform placement and obstacles are placed in a manner which does
not harm the trees. A wooden wedge tension system is used to attach all cables
and a threaded rod tension system is employed for the construction of the
platforms. This method ensures no hardware or attachments are driven directly
into the trees.
The newly-installed obstacle course is
situated in a five-acre area to the west of the vacant dormitory building, which
is being demolished for health and safety reasons. Through the public-private
partnership agreement, Treetop Quest operates the course at no cost to the city
and shares generated revenue (from admission fees to participants) with the
city.
For additional information on the Treetop Quest tree canopy obstacle
course and zip-line adventure at Brook Run Park please visit https://www.treetopquest.com/dunwoody/
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Pernoshal Park Construction to Begin May 2015
Pernoshal Park construction is expected to begin in May of 2015 and at approximately
5-acres, it will be the largest newly-built park created in the city. As part
of the Project Renaissance initiative in the Georgetown area, the city is
developing signature park areas across the 35 acres connected by a multi-use
trail.
The city held a number of public meetings to review and gain insight
on what the community wanted within the new park. Based on community workshops
and further discussion with City Council, a final consensus was reached
regarding the key amenities and features for the new signature park. The key
features of the park and trail include:
As with Georgetown Park, a key feature to Pernoshal Park will be the multi-use trail
connectivity which links the elements within Pernoshal Park across the 19-acre
property. When complete, the multi-use trail will stretch approximately three
miles from Chamblee Dunwoody Road at its eastern point to the trail loop within
Brook Run Park to the west.
The City recently released a bid for the construction of both
Pernoshal Park and the Dunwoody Trailway connection from Pernoshal Park to Brook
Run Park. The park construction is expected to be complete by the end of
2015.
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Brook Run Dog Park Improvements
Brook Run Dog Park, one of the city’s most active and popular amenities within
Brook Run Park, is enjoyed by many dogs and their owners for the natural beauty
and shaded areas that it provides. But because of its popularity, the dog park
area was in need of extensive rehabilitation.
At the direction of City Council, city staff helped draft plans to
reposition the dog park fencing and increase the distance between the dog park
and the park’s western edge. The improvements to the Dog Park will maintain and
improve the desirable features of the existing park and address the priorities
of the Parks Master Plan which emphasized the relocation of the dog park to another area
within Brook Run Park.
Construction crews have been active moving the dog park fence and
reusing as much as existing fence materials as possible. The newly-refurbished
and repositioned dog park is expected to be completed by the end of March and
will include a 2-acre area for large dogs and an estimated .25-acre small dog
area.
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Dunwoody Nature Center Entranceway Improvements
Through the Facilities Improvement Partnership Program, the Council
approved the Dunwoody Nature Center's request to transform the main entranceway
at the Dunwoody Nature Center into an ADA accessible entranceway.
The planned improvements will not only improve the usability and
safety of the parking lot but also reduce the localized flooding that occurs
around the current entranceway, and improve general aesthetics and make the
Dunwoody Nature Center even more welcoming for all park-goers.
Construction took place around the Dunwoody Nature Center’s busy
program and class schedule. The new entranceway will be completed by the end of
March, just in time for peak participation in this season’s exciting classes and
programs.
The entranceway improvements are the latest additions to the Dunwoody
Nature Center and compliment the renovated and expanded classroom spaces, main
education building, porch, cabin, Native American Teepee, and Foxes Den.
Also at the nature center work has begun on replacement of the
playground. The new playground will include multiple play structures integrated
into the wooded setting and will be fully accessible. The playground is
expected to be complete by May before summer camps begin. For more information
please visit http://www.dunwoodynature.org.
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UNCOVERING THE BENEFITS OF STORMWATER MAINTENANCE
The City of Dunwoody is starting out 2015 with a continued dedication
to the repair and replacement of aging stormwater infrastructure.
The majority of the stormwater pipes and structures within the city
are close to 40 years old and in varied stages of deterioration. For this
reason City Council approved the supplementation of stormwater revenues with
approximately $270,000 from reserves for the purpose of addressing major
stormwater infrastructure projects.
A few recently completed projects include the construction of a 300
foot pipe replacement on Fenhurst Place to address failing infrastructure as
well as a stormwater pipe replacement at the Dunwoody Nature Center. The city
also replaced a failing corrugated metal pipes under Delverton Drive by adding
138 feet of new 4 foot by 6 foot box culvert and an additional 104 feet of
18-inch reinforced concrete pipe.
In 2014 the city completed/conducted:
In 2015 the city expects to continue the proactive utility program,
finding and repairing problems before they become larger infrastructure issues
capable of causing damage to city and private property. To meet the future
needs of stormwater repair and replacement, the 2015 Stormwater Utility Rate was
adjusted based on the Municipal Cost Index and annual inflation. During 2014,
the index rose 1.51% which equates to an annual increase of $1.06 per year for a
total 2015 utility rate of $71.15 per year for a Dunwoody homeowner.
For additional information regarding these projects or to report a
concern, contact David Elliott at 678-382-6850 or david.elliott@dunwoodyga.gov
.
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PEDESTRIAN PERKS: SIDEWALK & INTERSECTION PROJECTS
The 2015 budget includes funding for progress on the capital paving
plan along with significant investments into sidewalk improvements which will
provide new connections to a number of important amenities and character areas.
The Tilly Mill Rd at N. Peachtree Rd intersection improvement project, the first
to be constructed by the city will also begin this year. Access to
well-maintained and operational city streets is of continued importance for FY
2015. The resurfacing of several major corridors, including Mount Vernon and
Chamblee Dunwoody Rd is being coordinated with a DeKalb County’s water main
replacement program. In addition, the city has added many neighborhood streets
to this year’s plan, making 2015 the city’s biggest year for street paving.
New Sidewalks Address Pedestrian Safety and Access
The newly completed sidewalks on the west side of Roberts Drive,
stretching from the northern city limit to Aurora Court, provide a walking route
to Austin Elementary School for the houses and neighborhoods on the west side of
Roberts Drive. Whether used for health benefits or a means to avoid traffic
congestion, sidewalks and other alternative accommodations provide tremendous
value to residents and businesses in Dunwoody.
Moving forward, the city has identified over 21 miles of future
sidewalk improvements (see the Sidewalk Improvement Policy) to provide pedestrian connectivity within the community.
New sidewalk segments will be designed to close gaps between existing sidewalk
segments or to connect them with proposed sidewalks at intersection improvement
projects, making the city’s roads safer, and more enjoyable for all. The city
will begin constructing sidewalks along these roads in the coming months.
The
city will also be implementing recommendations from the 2014 Pedestrian Safety Action Plan. This plan identifies improvements at
uncontrolled crosswalks within the city. Improvements at the following
locations are programed for 2015:
• Mount Vernon Road at Stratham Drive
• Womack Road - Dunwoody Elementary School (western
entrance)
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Mount Vernon Way Sidewalk Project
The Mount Vernon Way sidewalk project is expected to begin
construction in April. Mount Vernon Way is the main access point to many
neighborhoods on the north side of Mount Vernon Road, and the road does not have
sidewalks on either side of the street. Sidewalk will be added on the west side
of the road from Mount Vernon Road to Withmere Way. A raised crosswalk will be
added at the end of the project to provide a safer crossing for pedestrians at
Withmere Way.
Mt. Vernon Road Infrastructure Improvements – Sidewalks, Water Main Replacement, and Repaving
DeKalb County is embarking on an aggressive rehabilitation program to
address the aging water pipelines within Dunwoody and throughout the county. A
portion of the essential water main infrastructure improvements made by DeKalb
County will take place on Mount Vernon Road between Ashford Dunwoody Road and
Vernon Oaks Drive.
The Mount Vernon project will involve the replacement of two aging
water mains with one new 16-inch diameter main. These required infrastructure
improvement efforts by the county are not only necessary but critical for the
maintenance and quality of Dunwoody’s water system.
These crucial infrastructure improvements present the city with an
opportunity to make much needed road surface and pedestrian improvements along
the Mount Vernon Road corridor. Subsequent to the installation of the new water
main, the city will resurface this entire section of Mount Vernon Road and also
construct new sidewalks on the south side of Mount Vernon Road between Dunwoody
Village Parkway and Vernon Oaks Drive.
In an effort to streamline the sequencing of these improvements, the
City of Dunwoody will coordinate with the county and the contractor to perform
these tasks. The initial construction will begin the week of March 16, 2015 and
work is expected to be complete within seven to nine months.
Residents, businesses and community members interested in receiving
ongoing project updates and information can sign up for email alerts via the
Mount Vernon Water Main Replacement project web page, by emailing the city at construction@dunwoodyga.gov or by
calling the Department of Public Works at 678-382-6850.
Questions on these and other pedestrian projects may be sent to Mindy
Sanders at mindy.sanders@dunwoodyga.gov.
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