Gotham Park Committee Gets Back to Work

After a short time-out during the holidays the Gotham Park Committee reconvened today to continue our efforts to renovate Gotham Park. Today the committee set a series goals for the the renovation including master-planning, implementation, and fundraising.

Highlights:

• The committee reviewed several playground bids and landscape bids
• There was a decision to utilize our Park Pride Micro Grant to help install a boulder climbing frame in the playground area of Gotham Park.
• The date was set for an Earth Day Rummage and Bake Sale on Saturday, April 26
• A firm commitment to continue with the Annual Gotham Park BBQ in Sept/Oct was made by all.

If you are interested in volunteering to help the Gotham Park Committee contact us at Parks@PiedmontHeights.org

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.

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.

It Takes a Village

Well, it certainly takes more that a little ol' committee.

Something special happened this week while I was on vacation. Someone, not on the Gotham Park Committee saw a way they could help and stepped right up and did the job! Baron Jordan, VP of the Piedmont Heights Civic Association Board, made an application to the Park Pride Community Micro Grant Program on behalf of Gotham Park. What a guy!

The deadline was October 15-- just a few days away. I was out of town and not answering email or voicemail so Baron took on the mantle of leadership that he so often does and wrote the application himself. There was some thought that an application might be made for the fledgling Piedmont Heights Green Space Committee but b/c there was a requirement of matching funds so Gotham Park was selected. Our matching funds will come from the Sept Gotham Park BBQ and Fundraiser. Yet another positive repercussion of the fantastic BBQ event.

NPU-F sponsored the application for $500 for the installation of a sandbox/covered pavilion. You can read the complete application. Recipients of the grants will be notified by Nov 1. We'll be sure to post the results here and on our website.

Either way, next time you see Baron please give him a huge thanks on behalf of all Gotham Park Stakeholders!!

Why a Blog?

I created this blog to help communicate and dialog about the revitalization of Gotham Park.

The park belongs to the residents of Piedmont Heights. The City of Atlanta does not own the park, we do. This is a common place for all to read blog entries by the Gotham Park Committee, make comments, view pictures and designs, and learn about all new developments with the park. Check back often.