Parks, and Recreation & Cultural Arts Master Plan Update

Community Profile

Public Input Summary: Staff Interviews conducted April 14 and 15, 2014 Citizens Workshop - conducted April 15 th and 24 th, May 7 th and 8 th, 2014 Citizen Survey conducted April 28 th, 2014 Open House conducted June 12 & 15, 2014

Public Input Facilities Votes Sidewalks & bike paths 9 Dog parks 7 Bathrooms at all parking areas 6 Linear park to connect to Beltline (along the N Fork of Peachtree Creek) 6 Community gardens 5 Dredge Murphey Candler lake and fix shoreline 5 Improved pools, water park features 4 Outdoor theater, amphitheater 4 Nature center, botanical garden, sculptural garden, nature walk with labeled plants, arboretum Fix Murphey Candler parking 4 Playgrounds for multiple age groups: young kids, middle school, adults (CrossFit) 3 Disc golf 3 Historically restore shelters in all parks, new and more bathrooms, meeting facilities for all ages: recreation centers, caretakers home at Murphey Candler Usable waterways for kayaking and swimming 2 4 3

Public Input Programs Votes Continue Murphey Candler sports programs as is 11 A variety of programs for youth >12 and adults 9 Education 8 Master Gardener Projects Nature Walk Community Garden Festivals and concerts, music, art, fun runs 8 Exercise classes in recreation centers, recreation centers programs for Brookhaven kids and teens Regular farmers markets (not just on Saturday) 7 Edible landscaping in parks 6 Senior programs 5 Movies, screen on the green 4 Wellness, tai-chi, yoga, walking, water aerobics 4 Food trucks 4 Summer Camps: tennis, sports, art, nature 3 7

Public Input Survey Responses Top five youth sport activities Age 12 and under: Have participated in: Youth Sports: Baseball League Youth Sports: Soccer League Youth Sports: Swim Team Youth Sports: Basketball League Youth Sports: Tennis Programs 181 responses 148 responses 109 responses 108 responses 98 responses Would like to participate in: Youth Sports: Tennis Programs Youth Sports: Swim Team Youth Sports: Soccer League Youth Sports: Baseball League Youth Sports: Basketball League 224 responses 219 responses 205 responses 184 responses 174 responses

Public Input Survey Responses Figure 3.2: Using the list below, indicate how often you take part in the following parks and recreation programs:

Public Input Survey Responses Figure 3.3: Barriers to Park Usage

Public Input Survey Responses Access to the Parks: How many miles are you willing to walk or bike to parks? How far are you willing to drive? Figure 3.4: Walk 13% 80% 7% Would not walk Up to 2 miles 2-5 miles Figure 3.5: Bike 5% 12% 37% 24% 22% Would not bike Up to 2 miles 2-5 miles 5-10 miles 10+ miles Figure 3.6: Drive 2% 0% 5% 19% 74% Would not drive Under 15 minutes 15-30 minutes 30-45 minutes 45+ minutes

Public Input Survey Responses Figure 3.10: How would you rate the condition of Brookhaven's park facilities. 15% 2% 14% High quality 69% Good quality Varies by park Poor quality

Public Input Survey Responses Top five most needed: Provide more paved trails for running, walking and bikes (569 responses) Add restrooms at parks (551 responses) Provided shaded playgrounds and water fountains (455 responses) Renovate swimming pools (438 responses) Provide more playgrounds/renovate existing (434 responses) Top five somewhat AND much needed: Provide more paved trails for running, walking and bikes (820 responses combined) Add restrooms at parks (808 responses combined) Add more landscaping in parks to beautify the city (733 responses combined) Provided shaded playgrounds and water fountains (727 responses combined) Provide more playgrounds/renovate existing (716 responses combined)

Public Input Survey Responses Figure 3.14: Do you support or oppose Brookhaven developing a modern large recreation center that allows year-round programming of recreation and athletic programs?

Public Input Survey Responses

Staffing, Operations and Budget Figure 4.2: Proposed Organization Structure

Staffing, Operations and Budget Table 4.3: Benchmarking: Staffing 2014 Budget Staffing Staffing as a % of 2014 Operating Budget BROOKHAVEN 6 59% DUNWOODY 1FT 11.5% ALPHARETTA 51 FTEs 55.8% ROSWELL 106 FTE 55.8% DECATUR 7 FT; 49 PT 62.1%

Staffing, Operations and Budget Table 4.5: Benchmark City populations and Per Capita Operating Expenses for Parks and Recreation for 2014 Population Parks and Recreation Per Capita Expenditures (2014 Operating) BROOKHAVEN 55,418 $17 DUNWOODY 48,081 $22 ALPHARETTA 60,659 $113 ROSWELL 94,105 $109 DECATUR 20,178 $75

Staffing, Operations and Budget Table 4.6: Percentage of City Operations Budgets for Parks and Recreation Parks and Recreation Operating Budget as a % of Total Operating Budget BROOKHAVEN 5.1% DUNWOODY 6.4% ALPHARETTA 13.1% ROSWELL 16.9% DECATUR 8.6%

Staffing, Operations and Budget Table 4.7: Staffing as a Percentage of Operating Budget Personnel Services as a % of Operating Budget BROOKHAVEN 59.2% DUNWOODY 11.5% ALPHARETTA 55.8% ROSWELL 55.8% DECATUR 62.1%

Staffing, Operations and Budget Table 4.9: Recovery Rates for Cities Based on 2014 Budgeted Expenses and Revenues Revenue Recovery Rate as a % of Operations BROOKHAVEN 5.3% DUNWOODY 0.9% ALPHARETTA 25.5% ROSWELL 44.9% DECATUR 40.3%

Programming Table 5.1 Brookhaven Parks and Recreation Department Programs - Summer 2014 Program Program Description Facility Summer Camp for 5-13 year olds Sports FUNdamentals Summer Camp for 3-4 year olds Mens C Open Softball 11 weeks 7am-6pm Fee: $75 per week 3 day sessions June, July, August Fee: $100 per session Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday Leagues Mid-May - Mid-June Team Fee: $600 (plus transaction fee) Lynwood Park Recreation Center Lynwood Park Recreation Center Blackburn Park Coed C Open Softball Tuesday and Sunday Leagues Mid-May - Mid-June Team Fee: $600 (plus transaction fee) Blackburn Park

Programming Table 5.2 Blackburn Tennis Center Participation Tennis Program Adult Drills 1,245 Private Lessons 3,000 Friday Night Round Robin (Adult) 576 Senior Round Robin 175 Teams (Match play - Adult) 7,700 Teams (Practice- Adult) 4,500 Junior Drills 1,680 Public Reservations 8,600 High School Teams and Practices Wheelchair Tennis USTA Tournaments Estimated Participant (6/1/13-6/1/14) 5 total team practices or matches each week for 2.5 months - 6 courts No information provided No information provided

Programming Table 5.3: Other organizations offering programs in parks Organization Activity Park Population Served GOKickball Kickball Lynwood Park Blackburn Park Young Adults The American Boot Camp Fitness Blackburn Park Adults Meetup Group Ultimate Frisbee Brookhaven Park Young Adults TheTree Climbers International Technical Tree Climbing for all ability levels Blackburn Park Families and all ages

Facilities Recommendations Parks Acquire land in Planning Areas 2 & 3 and develop neighborhood parks, and find a large parcel near the Buford Highway Corridor to develop a new community park Set a target to obtain 8.0 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents over the next 10 years Develop a network of small neighborhood parks throughout the city connected by a community greenway system Complete the redevelopment of Blackburn Park Do major renovations throughout the park system to improve safety, ADA compliance and to create a unified appearance for park architecture, signage and site furnishings

Facilities Recommendations Recreation Facilities Develop new sports fields at the proposed new community park near Buford Highway Corridor Develop multi-use synthetic sports fields at multiple parks to increase use of the parks Develop a dog park in one or two of the existing parks Perform a community center and aquatics study to determine if the city would be better served to replace existing community centers and pools with one or more modern new facility Expand community gardening programs Redevelop parking at Murphey Candler Park to reduce the impact on surrounding neighborhoods Create more walking trails in existing parks Remove unnecessary and unsightly fences throughout the park system Develop picnic facilities and rental pavilions throughout the park system

Facilities Recommendations Greenways Create a major east-west greenway corridor that will begin a regional trail system connecting with surrounding communities Create north-south greenway corridors connecting community parks and neighborhoods to the proposed regional greenway Improve sidewalk and bicycle lanes throughout the city to provide access to greenways, parks and public transportation Create walking and running clubs when greenways are developed Sponsor a minimum of one 5K and 10K run/walk on community greenways and trails Greenways should complement complete street initiatives in the city and street crossings should be at controlled intersections or through grade separation (when possible) to improve safety for the greenway user Greenways should have a minimum 14 paved surface where space allows to better accommodate different user groups Good directional signage and rules should be provided at all trailhead access points

Facilities Recommendations Conservation Promote the formation of friends groups for each park Promote the use of green infrastructure in all parks Develop bank stabilization plans for the lake at Murphey Candler Park Begin a beautification program in parks including a tree planting program Begin a program to remove invasive plant materials from parks to create more open views in parks Look at mandatory park land dedication, or fees in lieu of dedication, as part of zoning code Create green density bonuses within the land use code to encourage the development of public open space and the elimination of large surface parking lots Create more non-vehicular access routes to MARTA Station to promote healthier lifestyles for community residents Minimize impervious surfaces in parks where possible and use porous pavements where possible All parks should have a recycling program and add site furnishing to promote recycling Use synthetic turf on some sports fields to reduce use of water and other natural resources as part of maintenance of the fields

Facility Assessments Table 6.5: Park Acreage and Classification SERVICE AREAS CLASSIFICATIONS PARK ACREAGE TOTAL PARK ACREAGE 0.25 miles Mini-Parks / Playlots 3.00 Clack s Corner 0.25 Fernwood Park 1.00 Parkside Park 1.75 0.50 miles Neighborhood Parks 81.70 Ashford Park 3.40 Blackburn II 3.00 Briarwood Park 15.70 Brookhaven Park 20.80 Georgian Hills 5.90 Lynwood Park 10.80 Osborn Park 11.50 Skyland Park 10.60 2.00 miles Community Parks 51.20.5 to 1 hour drive Blackburn Park 51.20 Regional Parks 120.60 Murphey Candler Park 120.60 Total Park Lands 256.50

Facility Assessments

Facility Recommendations Funding Projects Funding is subject to annual budget allocations by the Mayor and Council, potential bond issuance, and the availability of funding from federal and state grants.

Funding Recommendations Implement regulatory tools for mandatory parkland and greenway rights-of-way or easements in the zoning code. Develop a fees and charges policy Build on existing partnerships Seek grants and leverage existing funds as potential matches

Questions?