A recent AJC blurb about potential future greenspaces in Decatur, includes a very interesting note at the end…

The biggest surprise is that [Asst. City Manager Lyn Menne’s] talked to the owners of McDonald’s on Commerce Drive, which the city would like to convert into green space and a gateway to downtown. Menne emphasized, however, this is a much longer-term goal, perhaps even part of a 40-year plan.

The McDonald’s currently occupies a large corner lot at Commerce Drive and Church Street.  The city has long had big plans of road diets, bike lanes and all kinds of new features to make Commerce Drive, Clairemont Ave and Church Street more bike/pedestrian friendly.

The article also mentions the city’s “longtime interest in purchasing the entire 5 acres owned by the Samuel L. Jones Boys & Girls Club” and the potential to purchase AT&T’s property between New Street and Talley Street, as has previous been mentioned here.

Photo courtesy of Google Streetview

As we noted earlier this week, one of the items in Decatur’s published – but not yet approved – draft of its 10-Year Capital Improvement Plan is $250,000 in improvements to Hidden Cove Park in 2018-2021.

A reader asked for more info about what those potential upgrades would look like.  We inquired with the city, who pointed us to the Hidden Cove Park Master Plan, and noted “Exact specifics haven’t been determined yet but some of the proposed improvements in the master plan would be the goal.”

So let’s take a quick look at those improvements.  They include…

• Creating a total of 9 Pedestrian Entrances
• New bridge crossings
• Garden plots
• Composting stations
• Outdoor classroom
• Pedestrian Signage
• Bioswale Gardens

Click on the map above to enlarge it for the full plan.

As we all begin to dig into the Decatur budget for the coming year, the AJC notes that a majority of the capital improvements slated for the coming year are slated for two southside parks – Oakhurst and McKoy.

The AJC checked in with Deputy City Manager Hugh Saxon, who told them that if all goes according to plan “bathrooms, pavilions and concession stands at each park will get extensive renovations or completely rebuilt”.

Photo of baseball field at McKoy Park courtesy of Be Active Decatur

You may recall the reference to “greenspace” in our recent wrapup of all the happenings planned for East Decatur Station in the coming years.  Well, the AJC has dug up a few more details about that blob of greenish yellow between Talley Street and South Columbia on the map above.

According to the paper, the city is in conversations with AT&T to acquire the site, which according to the City’s Lyn Menne is mostly wetlands and ” build a regional retention center, and….turn the land into a park with a lake, similar to what they have at Atlantic Station.”

That would be quite a transformation from the “employee hub and vehicle storage site” that currently occupies the site.

Here’s a photo of the lake at Atlantic Station for your reference…

Photo courtesy of Cooperative Conversation of America

Ever since the Morse family handed over 7.2 acres of land over to the Decatur Preservation Alliance in 2002, the endgame for what would soon be called “Woodlands Garden” was to become it’s own independent entity.   This year, that goal became a reality.

According to a note from DPA Board Chair Stephan Swicegood, Woodlands Garden was granted non-profit status and on September 30th the Decatur Preservation Alliance transfered title of the Woodlands property to Woodlands Garden of Decatur, Inc.

Asked about the future of the DPA, Mr. Swicegood told DM…

DPA will live on. For many years now, we have produced (with help) the MLK Service Project that happens around the MLK holiday each January. DPA is the legal and financial entity responsible for the event. With Woodlands on their own, we’re excited about being able to put more time and resources into making MLK an even more successful event.

…our plan going forward is to operate as an all-volunteer organization, which means the maximum amount of our financial resources can go to those we are serving through the MLK project.

For those new to Decatur, the DPA was created back in 2001 to help save the old Decatur Depot from demolition.  (In fact, I just found their old “Help Us Restore the Decatur Depot” website if you’re looking for a blast from the past)  With help from city staff, the org raised over $100,000 to move the Depot just a few feet away from the railroad tracks and took possession of the building from CSX.

Allison passes along this note from the Winnona Park Message Board…

Meeting on 08/03/11 – Future Development of Dearborn Park

DeKalb County Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs Department and Friends of Dearborn Park will host a public meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 3 at 6 p.m. in Hazelwood Hall at Columbia Presbyterian Church, 711 South Columbia Drive in Decatur to discuss plans for Dearborn Park. The general public is invited to attend.

As users and lovers of Dearborn Park, MWNA & Friends of Dearborn Park hope you’ll be there to give your input regarding the future possibilities for our neighborhood jewel! Parks and Recreation officials will discuss plans for the future development of Dearborn Park, located on 1301 Deerwood Drive in Decatur.

For more information, contact Revonda Moody at 404-294-2890. Also feel free to contact Rebecca Sullivan, [email protected] or Dana Perkins, [email protected]

• Who: DeKalb County Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs Department
• What: Public Meeting to discuss the future development of Dearborn Park
• Where: Hazelwood Hall, Columbia Presbyterian Church, 711 South Columbia Drive, Decatur, GA 30030
• When: Wednesday, August 3 at 6 p.m

You may recall that Dearborn Park was specifically mentioned in an earlier version of the 2010 Strategic Plan as an underutilized resource at the edge of Decatur’s city limits, though I believe it was removed for a more generalized “parks” goal in the final plan.

Pic above courtesy of the Park Renewal Day website

Parts of Glenlake Park are beginning to look downright picturesque.  Some photos, courtesy of Mr. Chris Billingsley…