Plans for a new 5-acre city park include two playgrounds, an amphitheater, an area for picnicking and a large open field.
Brent Walker, city parks and recreation manager, said the planned park at Shallowford Road and Pernoshal Court was designed to offer a number of the things residents said they wanted during public meetings to discuss the city’s parks and recreation programs and to design the park.
“We’ve tried to squeeze all those desires into one concept design,” Walker told members of Dunwoody City Council during their Nov. 12 meeting. “We think we’ve hit all the buttons.”
Residents will have a chance to look over the plans and comment on them Nov. 19 during a city open house at St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church, 4755 North Peachtree Road. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. A brief presentation on the on development plans for the park is scheduled for 7:15 p.m, the city said in a press release.
The city said residents unable to attend the meeting may email comments on the park concept to parks@dunwoodyga.gov.
The 5-acre park is part of the city’s Project Renaissance development, a project intended to provide public parks, housing and shops in the Georgetown area of the city.
Several council members welcomed the proposal, but some suggested tweaks. Councilman Denny Shortal asked how close the playing fields were to homes planed in the area. Told they were about 50 feet, Shortal said that might be too close. “Something has to be done to put in some type of sound barrier, a buffer,” he said.
Councilman John Heneghan suggested adding a basketball court. The park plan now includes a multi-use court which can be used for basketball and other sports.
And Councilman Doug Thompson said the park should be a place for active recreation. “I’m looking at this park as a place people go to play to go sweat – sports, that sort of thing,” he said. “My fear is we will let this thing evolve more into a passive park. My vision is, ‘Let’s get out there and sweat.’”