DeKalb Invests In Parks But Not In Brookhaven

The parks are great in DeKalb.

As long as you don’t live in Brookhaven.

Wade Walker Park is about to open.  And , the project is estimated to cost $20 million! 

In fact, Stone Mountain Patch article has the following quote: “’This is a public/private partnership and this [collaboration] will lead us to bigger and better partnerships” Johnson [DeKalb County Commissioner] said.’ The project is expected to cost $20 million dollars, he said.”

According to DeKalb County documents, the county spends $331,040 to operate Ashford, Blackburn, Briarwood, Lynwood, Murphey Candler and Skyland Parks; that’s 6 parks in North DeKalb!

That’s right. Six parks!!! That is a mere 1.6% of the cost of the Wade Walker improvements! 

Why stop there, DeKalb County?

Here is where DeKalb has sent YOUR tax dollars. 

In 2008, DeKalb County constructed a $7-million water park in South DeKalb. 

To top things off, CEO Burrell Ellis decided it would be a good idea to build a $1 million dollar Soap Box Derby Track in South DeKalb.

Forget the fact that Lynwood Park can’t get a new playground or sand for the sand box. Forget the fact that Ashford Park had overflowing toilets for two weeks. Ignore the fact that Blackburn Park is run down and neglected.

Add it ALL up.

The six parks in Brookhaven get 1.1% of what three parks in other parts of DeKalb will get just for improvements!

To add insult to injury, in 2005, DeKalb County approved a $230,000,000 Bond Referendum for the improvement of transportation, parks/greenspace, and library infrastructure. And $40,000,000 of the parks bond money was spent on county operations and NOT on parks.

In the proposed city of Brookhaven, the 50,000 residents would have a Parks and Recreation department dedicated to improving parks in this area ONLY and YOUR local tax dollars will be dedicated to parks in this area only.

It is time to make a change. It is time for a more local focus and time for better parks.

It is time for a city of Brookhaven.

Dean Stansel