Friends of  Washington Park 

 

July 19, 2010 Park Clean up has been cancelled. Thanks.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, April 9, 2010   PRESS RELEASE

Media Contact: Ayanna Williams Director of Community Building 404.723.3116 Cell Phone [email protected]   WASHINGTON PARK /BELTLINE CLEANUP PLANNED FOR APRIL 10, 2010

  Atlanta, GA- On Saturday, April 10, 2010, from 9:00 a.m. to noon, volunteers will work in Washington Park and on the Beltline segment that runs behind the historic tennis center.  Volunteers from the community Friends of Washington Park group, Cox and Accenture will clear invasive plants, remove illegal dumping, mulch trees and eroded areas throughout the park, landscape the entrance and build bird houses. Their goal is to clear the walking trails that have already been established and restore them to clean, safe, walkable paths for Atlanta residents and visitors.   In celebration of Earth Day, Park Pride has partnered with Keep Atlanta Beautiful, Atlanta BeltLine Inc., BeltLine Partnership, Trees Atlanta, Historic Fourth Ward Park Conservancy and Atlanta Community Tool Bank to organize this and other BeltLine cleanups, including a cleanup near Ansley Mall on April 17.  Republic Services, Inc. is providing dumpsters for this and the April 17 cleanup.   Additionally, cleanup partners are inviting neighborhoods all along the BeltLine to host their own cleanups.  Other cleanups are planned for April 17 near Ansley Mall Virginia Highland and Freedom Parkway. Those interested in volunteering on the 17th can register online at www.keepatlantabeautiful.org.  It’s our BeltLine. Do your part. Get connected.   About Keep Atlanta Beautiful: Keep Atlanta Beautiful, an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, Inc., serves Atlanta by developing and implementing public education and community improvement programs that make a cleaner and greener Atlanta. These initiatives enhance the quality of life and economic development in the community by instilling pride in community ownership and a behavior change that seeks improvements in littering, recycling, beautification, and natural resource conservation. www.keepatlantabeautiful.org   About Atlanta BeltLine Inc. (ABI): ABI, an affiliate of the Atlanta Development Authority, is the entity tasked with planning and executing the implementation of the BeltLine in partnership with the BeltLine team including City of Atlanta Departments. Its functions include specifically defining the BeltLine plan; leading efforts to secure federal, state and local funding; continuing the BeltLine community engagement process; and serving as the overall project management office to execute the BeltLine plan, including the coordination of planning and execution activities with other City of Atlanta departments and managing all vendors and suppliers. Atlanta BeltLine Inc. is also responsible for tracking and reporting progress on the BeltLine to the Atlanta City Council, Atlanta Public Schools and Fulton County, the three taxing authorities that authorized the BeltLine TAD legislation in 2005.   About The BeltLine Partnership (BLP): BLPis a non-profit organization committed to raising funds from private and philanthropic sources to support the BeltLine; working with neighborhoods, community organizations, faith organizations, businesses and other groups to raise general awareness and broad-based support for the BeltLine; and serving as a catalyst to mobilize resources to address the social concerns raised by new development around the BeltLine. www.beltline.org   About Trees Atlanta: Trees Atlanta is a nationally recognized citizens group that protects and improves Atlanta's urban forest by planting, conserving, and educating. www.treesatlanta.org   About Park Pride: Park Pride, founded in 1989, is the only organization that works with communities all over Atlanta to improve their parks. In 2009, Park Pride coordinated more than 15,000 hours of volunteer work in Atlanta parks, developed new conceptual park plans for three parks and helped start more than a dozen “Friends of the Park” groups. Park Pride is able to engage and serve the community by generating Friends of the Park groups, focusing on advocacy efforts as well as promoting participation in its Adopt-a-Park, Park Visioning, Volunteer, Fiscal Partners and Micro Grant programs. Park Pride continues to work with local organizations and community members to support the creation of the Atlanta BeltLine, which promises to create more than 1,000 acres of new parks and 33 miles of trails. The organization’s annual Parks & Greenspace Conference serves as the signature event in our work to create a world class park system in Atlanta. www.parkpride.org   About the Atlanta Community ToolBank:
Established in 1991, the Atlanta Community ToolBank strengthens communities through the use of shared resources. Two unique programs, the Tool Lending Program and HouseProud, equip volunteers to implement a diverse range of service initiatives including home and facility repairs, playground builds, park restoration, community cleanups and much more. Over 200 charitable groups utilize the Tool Lending Program annually to access 150 different tool types. The HouseProud program also provides no-cost critical home repairs year-round for senior and disabled residents of designated Atlanta neighborhoods. Over 50,000 volunteers put ToolBank inventory to good use each year, completing more than 1000 community based projects. For more information about the Atlanta Community ToolBank, visit www.atlanta.toolbank.org.   About Friends of Washington Park Friends of Washington Park is a volunteer organization formed in 2007 with the goal of supporting Washington Park. FoWP is working to promote a public park that improves the quality of life through safe, clean, and well-maintained green space and high quality facilities.

Decatur Electronics Recycling Day Saturday, March 27 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Decatur High School Parking Lot (Corner of N. McDonough Street and Howard Avenue) Don't throw away that old cell phone, camera or PC component! Save it and recycle it on Saturday, March 27, 2010 at Decatur's Spring Electronics Recycling event. This semi-annual event has been hugely successful at diverting electronic equipment from landfills, where they may contaminate soil and water. Batteries will be accepted. TV's will be recycled for a minimal fee of $10 cash only per TV set with exact change. There is no charge to recycle other items. Electronics dropped off that day will be sorted and disassembled into raw materials or cleaned for re use.  Electronic Equipment for Recycling: See updated list for items that will be accepted at the Spring 2010 Event at http://www.decaturga.com/cgs_citysvcs_sfm_electronics.aspx. Almost anything with an electrical cord can be recycled at the event EXCEPT microwave ovens, furniture, light fixtures, household appliances, lamps, vacuum cleaners. Volunteers assist in unloading items. To volunteer, please contact Sandy Johnson at 404-377-5571. Early drop offs are not possible. For additional information call Sean Woodson, 678-898-8562.

Make the pledge, spread the word, Earth Hour Atlanta is March 27
 
Earth Hour Atlanta will join World Wildlife Fund's (WWF) global event on Saturday, March 27, from 8:30-9:30 pm, by asking residents and businesses to pledge lights out for one hour. Energy conservation has a lasting impact on air quality, economic development and water supply, all critical issues for Atlanta. Because lighting is a visible energy user, it's a good way to encourage people to be mindful of energy use. Make your pledge at www.myearthhour.org.
 
For local information on Earth Hour Atlanta visit www.SoutheastGreen.com under Green News with updates posted at www.twitter.com/EarthHourATL. The local buildings contact is Laura Thomas, 404.736.3652, [email protected].   By turning off non-essential lighting for one hour, Earth Hour, people around the world send a call to action on climate change. Led by the WWF, Earth Hour has grown into an annual phenomenon. Each year, individuals, organizations, businesses, and state and local governments turn off lights in homes, workplaces and at iconic landmarks. Nearly one billion people turned out for Earth Hour 2009 involving 4,100 cities in 87 countries on seven continents. In the U.S. 80 million Americans and 318 cities went dark for Earth Hour, including more than 400 metro Atlanta buildings.   Activities include the Earth Hour Family Fun Festival on Saturday, March 27 at Atlantic Station from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. plus restaurant viewing parties and children's poster contest. Earth Hour Atlanta hopes to show that making the pledge to turn out the lights for one hour is the start of a lasting impact on energy, water, and air quality

Park Cleanup for March has been cancelled,

PARK PRIDE'S 9TH ANNUAL PARKS & GREENSPACE CONFERENCE
Monday, March 22, from 8:30-5:00 at the Atlanta Botanical Garden

Conference and Pre-conference event registration is open: http://parkpride.kintera.org/2010Conference

The Conference is a wonderful educational opportunity that features presenters from New York, Seattle, Chattanooga, Houston, Washington, Charlotte & Jacksonville to showcase best practices in parks and community engagement. Each year the Conference attracts hundreds of attendees from Atlanta and surrounding cities, providing excellent networking opportunities. Conference highlights include the morning plenary session “From Red Fields to Green Fields: the macro economics of transforming $3 billion of under-performing commercial real estate into parkland,” the Luncheon Keynote “From Brown to Green to Gold: Chattanooga's Success, Atlanta BeltLine's Promise,” and four distinct concurrent session tracks --Design, Build, Manage & Community.

CEUs
Landscape Architects and Parks & Recreation professionals can earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) at the conference. The Georgia Society of Landscape Architects have indicated that conference attendees would qualify for L.A. CEUs. Representative of the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association have indicated that attendees could earn up to 0.2 GRPA CEUs by attending certain sessions. For more information about L.A. CEUs, contact Walt Ray at 404-817-7970. For more information about GRPA CEUs, contact George Dusenbury at 404-817-7970.

Two tours are offered the weekend preceding the Conference:
March 20 - Green Infrastructure Tour -- visits the Bellwood Quarry Reservoir & Clayton County's Newman Wetlands Center
March 21 - Community Garden Tour -- visits four of Atlanta's best examples of community supported agriculture. Full schedules for the tours are available as downloads on this page.

 

Please join us for the next  Green Thumb Committee Meeting   Thursday, March 11, 2010 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. - Meet in front of natatorium
Join us as we plan for upcoming volunteer days in the park.  We will also discuss a recent assessment of the litter situation in our park and FoWP's initiative to address it.  Bring your ideas and energy to help beautify and rehabilitate one of Atlanta's most historic parks. 
SAVE-THE-DATE!  BeltLine Cleanup at Washington Park Saturday, April 10, 2010   FOWP and BeltLine volunteers will clear litter and invasive plants along the Southwest BeltLine Corridor and Washington Park as a step towards creating a useable trail.  Mark your calendar and stay tuned for more details regarding this event.  For more information on the Beltline, visit www.beltline.org.  

January 16th's Clean up has been moved to January 18 for Martin Luther King Day of Service sponsered by Hands on Altanta.

Arbor Day is Friday Febuary 19!

This year FOWP will be supporting Trees Atlanta. We will be cancelling our normal park clean up and will attend one of the Trees Atlanta Events.

Arbor Day is the official holiday for celebrating trees.  In Georgia, Arbor Day is celebrated on the third Friday of February each year.  Trees Atlanta is recognizing trees and all they contribute to our communities throughout the month of February.  We will offer educational school programs/tree plantings at 5 Atlanta Public Schools along the Atlanta BeltLine Arboretum in partnership with Tim Womick/The Georgia Forestry Commission and the Alliance for Climate Education.  We will distribute 400 tree seedlings (courtesy of Smurfit-Stone Container Corp.) at North DeKalb Mall, Whole Foods Market on Ponce de Leon, at several Atlanta Public Schools and at Trees Atlanta Kendeda Center.  We are also offering volunteer opportunities (7 Tree Projects in 7 Neighborhood Arboreta) and events:
 

Georgia’s Arbor Day

Friday, February 19th

Virginia-Highland Neighborhood Arboretum

·        Friday, February 19th, 2010 - 9 a.m. to Noon

·        Please RSVP to [email protected].

·        Trees Atlanta Landscape Architect, Eric Childs, will lead a granite marker installation project to identify arboretum trees

·        Meet at John Howell Park (at the corner of Virginia Ave and Barnett St)

·        Volunteers are invited to join us for pizza after the project at the Trees Atlanta Kendeda Center, 225 Chester Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30316

 

Inman Park Neighborhood Arboretum

·        Friday, February 19th, 2010 – 9 a.m. to Noon

·        Please RSVP to [email protected].

·        Trees Atlanta Volunteer, Jim Abbot, will lead a tree planting project in Freedom Park and tree mulching in Inman Park.

·        Meet in Freedom Park at the intersection of North Highland Avenue and Carmel Avenue (where the bicycle path crosses Highland Avenue).

·        Volunteers are invited to join us for complimentary pizza after the project at the Trees Atlanta Kendeda Center, 225 Chester Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30316

 

Opening Reception for “Focus on Trees:  Photography by Kathryn Kolb and David Knox”

·        Friday, February 19th, 2010 – 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

·        Arbor Day Photography Show featuring tree images of Atlanta Photographers, Kathryn Kolb and David Knox at the Trees Atlanta Kendeda Center, 225 Chester Avenue, SE, Atlanta, GA 30316.

·        Reception is free and open to the public.  Show runs from Georgia Arbor Day (February 19th) to National Arbor Day (April 30th).

·        This reception will also serve as the kick-off event for Trees Atlanta’s “My Favorite Tree Photography Contest,” sponsored by the Georgia Forestry Commission*.

·        Parking (for cars and bicycles) is available at the Trees Atlanta Kendeda Center, in the gated parking lot next door and along the streets of Reynoldstown.  We are closest to the Inman Park/Reynoldstown MARTA station.
 

Day After Georgia’s Arbor Day – The Celebration Continues!

Saturday, February 20th

 
Cabbagetown/Reynoldstown Neighborhood Arboreta – In Partnership with DAVE FM

·        Saturday, February 20th, 2010 – 9 a.m. to Noon

·        Please RSVP to [email protected].

·        Trees Atlanta’s Education Coordinator, Robby Astrove, will lead a tree planting project of theme-specific trees in each arboretum.  Volunteers will also install/maintain granite arboretum markers and provide care for trees in the BeltLine Arboretum nursery.

·        Meet at the Trees Atlanta Kendeda Center, 225 Chester Ave, SE, Atlanta 30316.

·        Volunteers are invited to join us for our Arbor Day Celebration (including casual lunch offerings) after the project at the Trees Atlanta Kendeda Center, 225 Chester Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30316.  This is also a great opportunity to view the Trees Atlanta Arbor Day Photography Show, featuring photographs by Kathryn Kolb and David Knox.

 

Midtown Neighborhood Arboretum

·        Saturday, February 20th, 2010 – 9:00 a.m. to Noon

·        Please RSVP to [email protected].

·        Trees Atlanta’s Forest Restoration Coordinator, Blake Watkins, will lead a tree planting project in the Midtown Neighborhood Arboretum.

·        Meet at the Midtown Arboretum Monument, located at Vedado Way and 8th Street 

·        Volunteers are invited to join us for our Arbor Day Celebration (including casual lunch offerings) after the project at the Trees Atlanta Kendeda Center, 225 Chester Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30316.  This is also a great opportunity to view the Trees Atlanta Arbor Day Photography Show, featuring photographs by Kathryn Kolb and David Knox.

 

Oakhurst Neighborhood Arboretum

·        Saturday, February 20th, 2010 – 9:00 a.m. to Noon

·        Please RSVP to [email protected].

·        Trees Atlanta’s Program Director, Greg Levine, will lead a tree planting project in the Oakhurst Neighborhood Arboretum.

·        Meet at Olympic Place and College Avenue.

·        Volunteers are invited to join us for our Arbor Day Celebration (including casual lunch offerings) after the project at the Trees Atlanta Kendeda Center, 225 Chester Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30316.  This is also a great opportunity to view the Trees Atlanta Arbor Day Photography Show, featuring photographs by Kathryn Kolb and David Knox.

 

Sylvan Hills Neighborhood Arboretum

·        Saturday, February 20th, 2010 – 9:00 a.m. to Noon

·        Please RSVP to [email protected].

·        Trees Atlanta’s NeighborWoods Coordinator, Susan Pierce, will lead a tree planting project in the Sylvan Hills Neighborhood Arboretum.

·        Meet at the corner of Sylvan Road and Langston Avenue.

·        Volunteers are invited to join us for our Arbor Day Celebration (including casual lunch offerings) after the project at the Trees Atlanta Kendeda Center, 225 Chester Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30316.  This is also a great opportunity to view the Trees Atlanta Arbor Day Photography Show, featuring photographs by Kathryn Kolb and David Knox. 

 

Monthly Clean up

Saturday, September 19, 2009 Volunteer Day - 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. - meet in Natatorium parking lot If you are interested in making the park more attractive and safe, Friends of Washington Park invites you to join us this Saturday.  We will beautify the park and address landscaping issues.  No green thumb is required, just dress for outdoors and bring gloves if you have them.
Picture

Cinema in the Park Postponed.

Picture
You, your family, and friends are especially invited to a fabulous evening under the stars in historic Washington Park!

To celebrate 90 years of Washington Park's existence, the Friends of Washington Park are hosting
Cinema in the Park on Saturday, June 13, 2009.

Come out to enjoy our feature film, Love and Basketball!

We will also celebrate the life of Mr. Joseph "Jody" Brooks, first Co-Chair of the Friends of Washington Park's Programming Committee and a wonderful friend and neighbor.

Come EARLY to enjoy sweet treat concessions, giveaways, and get a GREAT SEAT!
Festivities start at 8:00pm, and the movie will start promptly at dusk.

GO GREEN to the park! MARTA is smarta'! We are conveniently located 3 blocks from the Ashby Street MARTA station.

Please share this information widely and visit the Cinema in the Park page on facebook

Any questions? Email us at
[email protected]

We look forward to seeing you on June 13 in Washington Park!

Current Events........


Home Depot, The Falcons, and Coca Cola were in the park, but to work not to play. See the pictures comming soon!!

Past Events....

EarthDay 2009... The J.D. Brooks Dedication Garden... The MLK Service Day...

Earth Day 2009
Washington Park Restoration


A Great Success!!

On April 18,2009, we completed two new picnic tables. We planted flowers around the park including benches near the upper playground.  Thank you to Kipp Ways Academy. The student let loose in the park. They cleaned, planted, built, painted and dug. All had a wondeful time working the park. We hope to you see you next month at out regular clean up.



The Joseph D.Brooks Living Garden Dedication

 


Friends of Washington Park would like to thank all for making the 
2nd Annual
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR
Day of Service              
A complete success

 FOWP LOVE

Friends of Washington Park always loves to here from neighbors.

Hello all,

I would like to thank the group for making all of the park's
improvements and continual projects. Though I am not always available
to participate on volunteer days, I support the mission. Since March 9,
2009, I have been walking in the park for exercise and on my walks I
make a point to pickup trash. I am convinced now to wear gloves on my walks, but the park looks wonderful. I enjoy people making comments about me picking up trash and noticing the pride I have in the park.


The mission is to spread the pride to others and see that small
projects can be done on your own.
Just a note and I hope to join the group when my schedule permit.

Yours in Service,

Bridgette L. Long, Realtor
Solid Source Realty
770-895-4580
www.BLonghomes.com
[email protected]


Support Washington Park!     
                    
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 Overheard..
"I keep my street clean by picking up all of the trash. I even clean the drains.-community member 

Be a Bag Nag! 

It would be GREAT to always remember to take your reusable bags to the grocery store. I forget mine even after leaving them in my car's trunk. However, it is nice to know that plastic bags of all kinds have other uses.  They are great to use when walking your dog in Washington Park. 

Take a moment and think of some other uses.

Park Poems

Sometimes I like to be alone, take a walk, and go to the park. I enjoy watching the children run wild just before dark.

It never fails to amaze me the energy they have, seems they can go forever, can't say the same for their moms or their dads.

They jump, roll, yell, and scream, choose up sides to make a team. Kick ball, jump rope, and hiding-seek, how do they find time to sneak a treat?
They're on the go until almost dark, ah yes, the kids! I love the park.
-
Victoria Taylor Murray


   A hidden treasure has been located in Washington Park! Volunteers are needed to help uncover beautiful stone paths throughout the park that have been hidden over time by excessive overgrowth. Families, groups, and individuals are welcome! Tools and supplies will be provided. Please come in outdoor attire and bring gloves if you have them.           We meet every third Saturday at 9 am at the Natatorium. Groups of more than 15, please send an email to  [email protected]       Remember to check The Green Thumbs 2009 Calender!!

Friends of Washington Park (FoWP) is a volunteer organization formed in 2007 with the goal of supporting the historic Washington Park recreational area. FoWP is working to promote a public space which improves the quality of life through safe, clean, and well-maintained green space and high quality facilities.  

 www.washingtonparkatlanta.org       [email protected]