Brookhaven parks and public works report summer openings, streetlight audit and pavement work

Brookhaven staff on Wednesday gave updates on parks, pools and public works projects ahead of summer activity.

Kim Watley, assistant director for parks and recreation (park operations), told the council that the Ashford Park splash pad opened May 1 and runs daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and that the Brookhaven Park doggy splash pad is also open. Watley said all city pools passed health inspections and that Briarwood and Chandler Murphy swim teams began practices; she added that a Briarwood Park volunteer day is set for June 6 and that the city is accepting donations and taking registrations for volunteers.

Watley said staff are addressing parking and traffic issues at Linwood Pool with added no‑parking signage and by moving some traditional summer camps to other locations; staff also are working with police on a weekend traffic control plan.

Public works staff (Jeff) reported that construction of a new crosswalk and a mid‑block crossing on Apple Valley Road in North Druid Hills will begin by the end of May, that full depth reclamation and resurfacing has been completed on named streets, and that crews are currently working on South Chaucer Lane with striping scheduled to start around May 18. He also said Georgia Power has begun a citywide streetlight audit to verify fixture locations and billing associations, and that five bids were received for a pavement assessment project.

Why it matters: the updates affect summer recreation, pedestrian safety and routine street maintenance schedules. Residents in affected neighborhoods should expect short‑term construction and traffic changes as crews complete resurfacing and crosswalk work.

What’s next: staff said they will present revisions to a mural site design in early summer and will continue to coordinate traffic control for busy weekend park days.