Saturday, November 10, 2007

Park Pride Community Grants Awarded

Good news in the email box this morning!

The PHCA Treasurer informed me that a check arrived today along with a letter awarding Gotham Park with a $1000 grant from Park Pride! The grant is part of their Community Grants Program which we applied for in October. Read the Award Letter.

The matching funds for this grant come from those raised at the Gotham Park BBQ in September. So thanks to all those who made donations and pledges at that time.

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Buffer Design

Sorry, guys...I'm completely at a loss when it comes to plantings. Not sure if I can offer an educated input. I'll go with what the experts advise...thanks!

Sunday, November 4, 2007

2007 Annual Report

This afternoon PHCA held its 2007 Annual Meeting. At that meeting each committee presented a report of their efforts and goals for 2007. Gotham Park did the same. If you were not able to make the meeting please read the report.

2007 has been a great year for Gotham Park. It's been a year of momentum building, alliance making, and fundraising. It requires a concerted effort on the part of many people to revitalize a common space like Gotham Park and we well on our way! In late 2006, Gotham Park entered into a fiscal partnership with Park Pride. This allows us to accept tax-deductible donations. A crucial step in the fundraising process. Gotham Park started the year with just over $700 in the bank; we end the year with almost $55,000 and growing! The rest of 2007 will be spent gathering the information we need for a Gotham Park master plan-- obtaining cost estimations, establishing a phased schedule for construction and implementation, collecting bids, and determining our fundraising goals for 2008.

2008 will be another year of strategy and fundraising-- but more exciting, 2008 will be a year of implementation! You will really start to see the funds we've raised being invested into Gotham Park. My personal goal is to celebrate my daughter's fourth birthday in a park complete with attractive landscaping, improved entrances and paths, an activity lawn, park benches, picnic tables, and maybe, just maybe, a full playground installation.

Please stay in touch with the Gotham Park Committee and our efforts. Visit us on the web at http://www.piedmontheights.org/ and at this blog. https://www.gothampark.blogspot.com/. Check back often as I, and the other committee members, will try to post as often as we can so that you will know just what's going on.

The Gotham Park Committee is Jenny Cowhig of Wimbledon Rd, Judy Landey of Wimbledon Rd, Geri Laufer of Rock Springs Rd, Maria Lyons of Lebanon Dr, Kellye McGarry of Lebanon Dr, Keely Muse of Lebanon Dr, Barbara Newton of Lebanon Dr and Irene Seay of Rock Springs Rd.

If you are interested in joining the Gotham Park Committee please email us at http://mail.google.com/a/piedmontheights.org/mail%20to:%20parks@piedmontheights.org

As Promised: Latest Design Drafts

In August the Gotham Park Committee held a "stakeholders meeting" to review drafts of the park designs. The goal was to collect the prioritization of the neighbors, or stakeholders, of Gotham Park. As promised, here are is the newest design draft reflecting that collective feedback.

Incidentally, these designs were recently handed over to a landscape designer for translation into a professional master plan. More about that later.

Friday, November 2, 2007

Buffer Design

Here is the first draft of the buffer design by Ruppert Nurseries. Please comment.

This design is for the implementation of the $15,000 in trees that WXIA promised to PHCA. This was part of the negotiation between WXIA and PHCA to mitigate the impact of the WXIA construction alongside the buffer between the WXIA property and that of our PHCA residents.

Gotham Way Park landscaping ideas

Midday on Friday, Oct 26 I attended a Gotham Way Park meeting on site with some of our other committee members, a representative from Holder Construction Co and a couple of fellows representing Ruppert Nursery in Lilburn. Ruppert Nursery is installing the new WXIA landscaping and subsequently is installing the adjacent Gotham Way Park landscaping.
After our meeting, it occurred to me that I am concerned about planting large specimens, especially during a Level 4 drought. I would like to go on record as saying smaller trees take root and grow much more easily than larger ones, they require less water to get started, they cost less individually, and the little ones eventually catch up and then surpass the larger ones in size (it may take 6-10 years, but eventually they do) . However, they do not provide the "instant screening" like the larger ones do (unless they dry out in the drought and die, then they wouldnt provide any screening).
Further, I recommend that Rupert include native holly, native Southern magnolia, native Florida anisebush and other tough, broad-leaf, evergreen, native plants for the Gotham Way Park planting list.
An aside:
Daffodils are not native, but they are tough and squirrels and chipmunks don't eat them b/c they are poisonous. Envision a "host of golden daffodils" on the big hillside! It would look great after the steps or switchback path is in.


Piedmont Heights called "trendy neighborhood"

In today's AJC Metro Section in a story by Paul Donsky, Piedmont Heights was included on the map of the Beltline touching trendy neighborhoods. View the story online at
http://www.ajc.com/search/content/metro/stories/2007/11/02/beltline1102.html Glad to see Piedmont Heights is getting the recognition all our neighbors know we deserve.


PHCA Annual Meeting

The PHCA Annual Meeting is this Sunday from 3-4:30 PM. Come and learn about what's going on in your neighborhood as well as Gotham Park, vote in the Board of Directors election, visit with your neighbors, enter a raffle and win door prizes, and nosh on some goodies. See you there. Click here for the 2007 Annual Report for Gotham Park.