Parks

Lavish spending on Public Parks should be limited and based on need and utilization. I understand that the wealthier half the population uses these parks and they are willing to pay for them. But Parks are accessible across city lines and many Churches have open parks and recreation programs.

Sandy Springs ballfields at Morgan Falls are excellent and the baseball program is outstanding. Roswell Recreation facilities are extensive. Both are accessible and well utilized by Dunwoody residents. Parents have their kids in sports programs.

The Skate Board facility at Brook Run Park in Dunwoody is a unique place for Skate Boarders.

Brook Run Park is next to Peachtree Middle School and Dunwoody is sharing their ballfield. Dunwoody has spent $4 million to cut down 400 trees to build a multi-use path MARTA wanted in Brook Run Park to “achieve connectivity”, so bikers could use MARTA.

Dunwoody recently proposed to spend $7.5 million more on Brook Run Park to build a band shell for concerts and a lawn in front of it, if anybody will come to concerts.

Dunwoody has an annual Lemonade Days festival at this park and it is well attended. But other attempts at community gatherings are not that well attended.  Dunwoody still has a lot of street repair to complete, but the “clique” wants fancy parks.

Brookhaven has a $40 million Park Bond on the ballot, but financing with Bonds results in doubling you cost. I caution Brookhaven voters to question this plan based on cost and expected utilization.

I led the defeat of the Dunwoody $66 million Park Bond in 2011, based in its $132 million cost. Bonds act like a mortgage. A 30 year Bond at 5% results in interest payments equal to the principle. The vote against the Parks Bond got 66% of the vote. Dunwoody is a small city with a land area of 13 square miles and a City Budget of $24 million. It had formed as a city in 2009 and the roads and storm sewers were going on 50 years old and were crumbling.

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader