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Doraville council debates spending strategy for Honeysuckle Park and playground upgrades
Summary
City staff presented a parks‑needs list centered on Honeysuckle Park’s deteriorating mini pitch and field house, prompting council debate over whether to invest heavily at one site or spread limited funds across several pocket parks; staff said some repairs can be phased and grants may supplement local dollars.
Doraville — City staff on July 8 presented a prioritized parks‑needs list that put major repairs at Honeysuckle Park at the top, sparking council debate over whether to spend tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars on one large site or spread funding across several smaller neighborhood parks.
Chris LaFleur, who led the presentation, said the mini pitch at Honeysuckle is “in very bad condition” and estimated replacement costs in the range cited to council. He also described a field house at Honeysuckle with roofing, drywall and electrical problems that currently cannot be insured or used for concessions or rentals, and therefore reduces rental revenue. LaFleur said staff obtained multiple contractor quotes and that some items — such as restrooms at Honeysuckle — could be completed in house by public works for lower cost.
The discussion centered on timing and risk. Several council members argued for a phased approach and prioritized smaller, lower‑cost interventions that would deliver visible benefits to more neighborhoods. Council member Evans said he preferred directing smaller blocks of money to multiple playgrounds rather than spending $250,000 on a single site that could be redeveloped as part of the comprehensive plan. Other council members said the mini pitch is heavily used and that leaving it unrepaired poses safety and liability risks.
Finance staff told council that over a six‑year period the city has roughly $1.6–$1.8 million in SPLOST/SPLASH funds available for park work and that some of the Honeysuckle items could be budgeted or phased. The presentation identified estimated costs for specific projects: a roughly $100,000 estimate for the Honeysuckle mini pitch replacement, $30,000–$40,000 for a Chicopee playground, and $10,000 for restroom repairs that public works can perform in house.
Council members also asked staff to pursue grant opportunities for targeted amenities and requested a clearer timeline and a phased plan showing which repairs would be done in the coming budget year versus deferred until the comprehensive plan is finalized. LaFleur said staff would schedule follow‑up meetings and return with a recommended phasing plan and more exact cost estimates.
The council did not take a final vote on funding during the meeting; members requested additional information and a recommended timeline to avoid spending money that could be undone by a later master plan decision.
