Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks And Recreation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
PECS committee reviews Arabia Mountain, Hairston and Pleasantdale master plans; committee approves plans to proceed
Summary
Parks staff presented three park master plans — Arabia Mountain, Hairston Park and Pleasantdale Park — describing phased capital and operating priorities; the committee approved the three plans and discussed funding strategies including grants, SPLOST and possible referendum.
Parks and Recreation staff presented master plans for Arabia Mountain, Hairston Park and Pleasantdale Park and the PECS committee voted to approve the plans to move forward for consideration in future budgets and grant-seeking.
Dave Clardy (Parks and Recreation) summarized the Arabia Mountain master plan as a flexible 10–20 year roadmap developed with public input and stakeholder meetings; capital recommendations include a new or renovated nature center (estimated $2 million to renovate the existing house; a future new facility around 10,000 square feet was discussed), restroom facilities, access improvements, visitor-counting devices and potential land acquisitions. Clardy said the plan prioritized safer access from Rockland Road and added trailhead and emergency-call-box concepts. The capital estimate shown in the plan totaled roughly $30 million for capital items and about $8.75 million for operations (inflation-adjusted estimates in the packet). He described public turnout for workshops and a final public meeting where participants ranked priorities.
Staff then presented Hairston Park (a 2022 plan carried forward with 2025-cost adjustments) and Pleasantdale Park (2023 plan with translated outreach for Spanish speakers). Hairston priorities include lake improvements, restoring an old siphon system, a fishing dock and restroom infrastructure; Pleasantdale concept work emphasizes a tournament-level lighted soccer field (possible synthetic turf), covered multiuse field, pavilions, improved pedestrian access and a new concession building. Staff emphasized these are phased plans and funding will come from a blend of sources including CIP, SPLOST, ARPA/stormwater where eligible and grants.
Commissioners discussed how to fund multiple master plans across the county. Commissioner Ted Terry said DeKalb has historically relied on bond referenda for large park investments and suggested the county consider a referendum or other larger funding mechanism rather than relying only on grants and piecemeal funding. Commissioners also asked staff to analyze partnerships with municipalities, especially because much of the county is municipalized, and requested an administration assessment of options, including a potential referendum, and prioritized phasing for the most immediate needs.
Why it matters: Master plans guide capital priorities for parks and trails and inform grant applications and budget requests. Commissioners said DeKalb’s park network and regional facilities require strategic funding decisions to meet community expectations.
What’s next: Committee approved the three master plans presented and asked administration staff to come back with funding scenarios and a countywide/municipal partnership analysis.
