Local parks receive upgrades
Parks in Brookhaven, Chamblee and Stone Mountain are in varying stages of improvement thanks to recent renovations and ongoing projects.
On Oct. 20, more than 100 volunteers participated building in a new playground at Leila Mason Park, located at 5510 Stillhouse Road in Stone Mountain.
The playground was constructed through a partnership with the city of Stone Mountain, UnitedHealthcare and KABOOM!, a national playspace equity nonprofit.
“Although the weather was a little gray, KABOOM!’s playspace experts guided all volunteers in organizing, installing, and finalizing every feature, from the first hole dug to the last coat of mulch raked,” stated Stone Mountain officials.
Stone Mountain Mayor Beverly Jones said the park and the playground, located in the historic Shermantown area of the city, represents the community “coming together in love and connection.”
“Leila Mason is one of the most used parks here in the city,” said Jones. “This community is called Shermantown, and it has so much history. Some of the history is unsightly, but what we are doing, we are turning it around. Tell your friends and your neighbors, the city of Stone Mountain right here in Shermantown where descendants of slaves live, that we are a city and community of love. I just thank you all from the bottom of my heart.”
The playground includes slides, swing sets, jungle gyms and other features that are designed to be easily accessible for children of all ages, said officials with KABOOM!.
On Nov. 1, the city of Brookhaven held a groundbreaking ceremony to kick off improvements to Briarwood Park located at 2235 Briarwood Way in Brookhaven.
According to officials, planned improvements include a reconstructed parking lot with better lighting; a dumpster pad; EV chargers; resurfacing of Briarwood Road with a new entry sign to the park; stormwater improvements to bring the property into compliance with the current city stormwater ordinance; new, larger community garden; loop trail in wooded area with bridge crossing the stream; removal of driveway entrance off Briarwood Way for pedestrian sidewalk entrance and an added sidewalk entrance closer to Drew Valley Road.
Improvements to Briarwood Park are one of the last remaining projects under the 2018 park bond, stated officials.
“I’m thrilled for our district and the city that we are taking yet another step in our commitment to amazing parks and greenspaces,” said District 2 Councilwoman Jennifer Owens. “Briarwood Park is such an asset to our community. After these improvements, Briarwood Park will be an even better place for the community to gather and enjoy the new and refreshed amenities.”
Most recently, on Nov. 2, Chamblee officials celebrated upgrades to Chamblee’s park system with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Arrow Creek Park, located at 4445 Buford Highway in Chamblee.
“Arrow Creek Park features several firsts in Chamblee’s park system, including a large outdoor fitness area, dog park, small sided soccer field, dedicated pickleball courts, an artificial turf pitch field and shared basketball and volleyball courts,” stated officials. “This park sits on the same property as Chamblee’s state-of-the-art public safety complex.”
For more information, visit stonemountaincity.org, brookhavenga.gov, and chambleega.com.
