Murphey Candler Park I Planning

 

Proposed Park Bond funding for Murphey Candler Park I:  $8,984,138

Improvements to Murphey Candler Park will include a boardwalk, new community building, trail renovations and horseshoe playground. Click here for the list of items included in the approved Park Bond Referendum.

 

Horseshoe Road Now Open

Reconstruction of the Murphey Candler Park Horseshoe Road was completed in mid-July and the road is now open. The newly paved road is one-way with the entrance at the east end closest to the tennis courts and the exit on the west end closest to the playground. A sidewalk was added along the gravel parking lot on Candler Lake E for safer access to the playground.

Gravel parking spaces have also been added along the road. Park visitors should not park on the grass between parking spaces.

The Community Green will open later this summer when the sod is established for foot traffic.


Multiuse Trail on Dam Now Under Construction at Murphey Candler Park

Work started on the Multiuse Trail on Dam project in Murphey Candler Park the week of July 11 and and is expected to last through the end of the year. 

During construction, trail users can detour across the street to the sidewalk on the south side of the dam, go through the baseball/softball complex, or follow the south trail. 

The project will replace the existing 5 foot wide sidewalk that crosses the MCP dam on the north side of W. Nancy Creek Drive with an 11 foot wide sidewalk. The new sidewalk will have seven (7) observation decks overlooking the lake with benches and railing. The decks will be 6-feet wide x 30-feet long.

The construction contract for the MCP Multiuse Trail on Dam project was awarded at the June 14, 2022, City Council meeting. Read the Trail on Dam Fact Sheet for more details and view the plans here

Current view of sidewalk/trail on dam - trail width will be doubled as part of improvements under Park Bond Program.  

 


Horseshoe Road at Murphey Candler Park Closed Until This Summer for Improvements

Work on the Murphey Candler Park Horseshoe Road got underway in late April 2022. The road is closed to vehicular and foot traffic during construction. The playground will remain open during this time. The  rebuilt road is set to open later this Summer. 

Project plans can be viewed here

 


April Brings More Activity as Improvements and New Amenities Take Shape

A contractor was selected in April 2022 for demolition of the scout hut. Work will begin to install required erosion control measures before demolition can take place. The actual demo and removal of debris will only take a few days. The work area will be fenced to provide safety for park users as well as ball players and families. Temporary grading will be added to the area for drainage in anticipation of the Lake House parking lot expansion. You can view demo plans here.

    

The Murphey Candler Park Kiwanis Serves monument will be preserved and remain in place on an island in the Lake House parking lot.  

Also in April, installation of the north boardwalk continued across the northern end of the lake. The top down construction method allows the contractor to work off the deck of the boardwalk as they progress forward. It also helps eliminate disturbance to the ground and wetlands. Signs are in place to alert trail users to active construction areas. The project is scheduled to be finished this summer.

  

 


Murphey Candler Park - Horseshoe Road Renovation and Community Green Opening 

The contract for the Park Bond funded renovation of the Horseshoe Road in Murphey Candler Park was approved by City Council at the March 22, 2022 meeting.

The contractor will reconstruct the existing road using a process known as Full Depth Reclamation. This process recycles the existing material in-place for a new road base. The new 20-foot wide road will follow the same route and be at the same elevation as the existing road. The road will be closed to vehicular and foot traffic during construction. The project is scheduled for completion this summer. View the project FAQ for more information.  

The full project plan is in two parts because of the file size and is available at the links below:

Click image to enlarge. 

Construction of the new Park Bond funded Community Green was completed earlier in March. The area will remain fenced off and closed to the public until the Zoysia sod has rooted and is ready for public use. The opening will coincide with completion of the Horseshoe Road this summer.


More Parking Now Available at Murphey Candler Park + Additional Improvements           

Parking lot improvements at Murphey Candler Park are now complete and opened for use on March 11. 

Improvements funded by the Park Bond program includes a resurfaced south lot and an expanded north lot for athletic leagues to use now and for pool users this summer. An expanded north lot now includes an additional 30 parking spaces. This should help alleviate parking along Candler Lake West.

Improvements were also made to the north lot stormwater system and landscaping along Candler Lake West plus a new sidewalk along the road that connects to the playground. Future site improvements with the Lake House will complete the connection all the way to West Nancy Creek Drive and the ball fields.

  


Work Underway on Murphey Candler Park North Boardwalk

The contractor mobilized the last week of February 2022 to begin installation of the boardwalk that will be located at the north end of Murphey Candler Lake. Crews are using a top-down method of construction to minimize impact to the lake, and the work is expected to be complete later this summer

The wood boardwalk will be elevated above the water so park visitors can walk across the wetlands and enjoy observing nature in the area. The pictures show what the community can expect once the installation is finished.

Trails will remain open during construction and will be graveled during the work to maintain access. The gravel will be removed after the boardwalk is in place so that the trails revert to a natural surface.

You can view the full plans for the boardwalk here.

  


Murphey Candler Park Lake House - First Look at a Community Gathering Space

The Murphey Candler Park Lake House design has progressed from schematics to preliminary design. Renderings of the Lake House that show the facility as it will look on the west bank of Murphey Candler Lake were shared with the community in January 2022. 

Building

The 4000 square-foot building is designed to focus on its surroundings by minimizing its impact on the landscape.  Its long horizontal lines reduce visual interference between the structure and the panoramic views of the trees and the lake.  A continuous series of clerestory windows, set on the building’s walls, allow for natural lighting and landscape to flow through the structure.  The “rentable” lake facing multi-purpose rooms are equipped with fireplaces and retractable glass walls – offering the option to remove the barrier between structure and nature. The building is surrounded by a large, cantilevered deck that appears to float above the landscape.  Its relationship to the multi-purpose rooms allows them to naturally expand into the outdoors. The deck will also be available to park users from the lake trail.  Brookhaven granite will be used on both the interior and exterior walls, as well as the fireplaces, to further emphasize the connection between the two realms.

The floorplan of the Lake House includes items identified in the Public Input Report which was developed from information collected during the public outreach process. The top-ranked lake house programming preferences are; restrooms, multi-purpose meeting spaces, an outdoor overlook, and exterior accessed restrooms for the trail users. The multi-purpose room spaces will be available for community rental. The deck space will be accessible from inside the building during meetings and from outside when the facility is closed.

The existing parking lot at the Scout Hut will be expanded from 52 spaces to approximately 100 spaces. The additional parking was established during a public input process in early 2021. The lot layout will save the 2 identified specimen trees, a 38” oak and 33” pine, both located close to the lot entrance.

Setting

The building is set in a tall pine forest along the west bank of Murphey Candler Lake.  The floor is elevated well above the 100-year flood affording the interior a great view out over the lake.  The building also has a wide lakeside deck as an overflow space for any events inside.  When the building is closed, the full height and width glass doors allow for this view to be maintained all year.  The deck and roof extend out over the lake bank making the deck a great viewing platform that can be used all year and even when the building is closed.  Approaching the building along the trail is meant to be nondescript.  The pedestrian can see through the high window lights into the ceiling space and out to the lake.  Once entering the building, the view opens up to the lake.  The front door is recessed into a small alcove to protect against inclement weather. 

Two small square open-air pavilions flank each end of the building – providing space for patrons wanting to stop, but not necessarily be part of the interior events. The building will also be hidden from the adjacent neighborhood due to its low-profile design as well as the sites natural grades.  An open lawn in front of the lake house will provide a perfect spot for outdoor venues or simply enjoying a lazy Sunday afternoon. The colors and materials of the building were chosen to blend with the natural environment and represent a warm and casual building on the lake in a forest.

 

 

Click images to enlarge view

 


Murphey Candler Park I Master Plan Rendering

About: One of the oldest parks in Brookhaven (established in 1954), Murphey Candler is the largest park in North DeKalb County. Its amenities include multi-use fields, tennis courts, a swimming pool, a playground, picnic areas, a lake, and trails. An expansive slate of youth sports are offered through baseball, softball, and football programs that operate through the park.

Fun fact about Murphey Candler Park: The lake at Murphey Candler Park offers fishing, and it is home to largemouth bass, bluegill, sunfish, and channel catfish.  The lake is also home to Canada Geese, Mallards, other ducks and beavers.

The parks bond funding does not include all projects identified in the park master plan. Additional improvements will be funded at a later date to complete the master plan.


Parks Bond Update

Sept 10, 2020

Demolition Drawings

The Park Bond Oversight Committee met on September 2, 2020 to discuss the status of the park projects included in the Program - among them Murphey Candler Park. Committee members requested the demolition drawings showing planned tree removal for projects in Murphey Candler Park. Drawings are available here.

Sept 4, 2020

New Playground

The playgrounds on Candler Lake East at Murphey Park will be replaced with new and improved playground structures beginning in October. A contract for $305,315.99 was awarded to Kompan at the July 28, 2020 City Council meeting.

View the Layout Plan and a Closer View for more details on the new playground.

Past Updates