Administration submits Parks Bond project list to Mayor and City Council

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PARC priorities included in $40 million total, community input wanted

Brookhaven, GA, July 10, 2018 – Today, Brookhaven City Manager Christian Sigman forwarded a recommended project list of Parks capital improvement projects to the Mayor and City Council.  If the Mayor and City Council choose to place a Park Bond Referendum on the Nov. 6, 2018 ballot, the City Council must adopt a resolution calling the election ballot question at its July 24 meeting.

This recommended project list follows an analysis of the potential Park Bond Referendum to continue progress on the Parks Master Plan, which was submitted June 29.  Since October 2017, the Administration has worked with the Parks and Recreation Coalition (PARC) on the future funding for the capital improvement needs in the City’s parks.

“I want to thank the engaged citizen volunteers of PARC for their hard work, their vision, and ultimately identifying a project list that we can all agree upon,” said Mayor John Ernst. “Likewise, I appreciate the inclusions from the City Manager and staff to augment the PARC list to ensure the greatest number of stakeholders are adequately served.”

The project list submitted by PARC and agreed to by the Administration totaled $26.5 million to complete Ashford, Briarwood and Brookhaven Parks, and $2.1 million for Murphey Candler Park.  However, the Administration further recommended an additional $13.5 million in funding to address critical needs in Lynwood, Blackburn and Murphy Candler Parks. 

“Lynwood Park is a historically underserved community and has received very little capital funding investment in decades,” said City Manager Christian Sigman.  “Murphey Candler Park is the City’s largest and most utilized recreational asset and needs significant capital improvements.  The Administration also included high priority investments in Blackburn Park.”

According to PARC, there is unanimous support within PARC for their $26.5 million list, but the list is not a “recommendation”, but a “consideration” to the Mayor and City Council.

“With an overall $39.9 million project list, a Parks Bond referendum, if passed, would not increase Brookhaven property taxes,” said Sigman.  “The increase at this level would be offset by the reduction in the City’s property tax rate due to DeKalb County Park Bonds maturing in 2020 as well as the increased EHOST property tax credit.”

The public is encouraged to view the recommended project lists on the City’s website and submit feedback to the City Council on this topic.  The website for Parks Bond Referendum information, including the Park Bond Referendum report, recommended project list and supporting documentation, can be found here: https://www.brookhavenga.gov/parksrec/page/parks-and-recreation-future-funding

The email for feedback on parks projects is ParksFeedback@BrookhavenGA.gov.

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