to: DeKalb Parks/Greenspace

from: Beth Nathan, President, Hawthorne Civic Association

date: May 14, 2004

re: Neighborhood Input on the Armstrong (Mary & Scott) greenspace

For the past eight months the Hawthorne area community has been getting to know the Armstrong greenspace and developing visions for its future, through repeated opportunities to experience or hear about the property. On April 27, I solicited via e-mail & snailmail current visions about the space from people identified as a planning committee and work volunteers. I report below the community's current thinking on park features, roughly ordered by how frequently a particular feature/issue gets mentioned. Following that are a chronology of neighborhood activities and copies of articles published in the neighborhood's newsletter.

We anticipate a county-organized charrette in the not too distant future and look forward to participating in the master planning process. Both Briarcliff Methodist and Shallowford Presbyterian churches have volunteered their space for a charrette, calendar-permitting.

• There is unanimity in the neighborhood's desire to keep this space a relatively natural woods with walking trails. When walking paths are discussed, there is often a mention of "near the stream". Some examples:
  "We definitely NEED WALKING TRAILS. The metro area is short of walking trails. Ideally, the trail would take advantage of the stream and maybe allow for a bridge crossing. Hugging the stream would be nice. "
  "It would include loop trails, wild flowers along the trails and some open space for sunlight and for a relaxing area. Some benches along the trail would be nice."
  "Basically, I see it as low pedestrian/dog use and nothing else. Unpaved walking paths. No lighting. No playground, paved areas, pavilions, etc. At the most I would like to see picnic tables, but preferably not even that."

• There was some initial consideration of private fundraising and formation of a non-profit friends-of-the-park organization. Such discussion has been muted in light of the current stagnation of funds raised privately for the improvement of county land, e.g. Dunwoody Nature Center.

• Greenspace nomination and letters of support from Flair Forest Garden Club and Hawthorne Civic Association.

• Marvin Billups and Dave Butler spoke to Flair Forest Garden Club about the future of the project.

• Hawthorne Civic Assn board adopted the Greenspace as an HCA project, Beth Nathan as coordinator for the project.
• A group consisting of Dave Butler, Connie Gray, Beth Nathan, MaryKay Wilcox, Georgann Schmalz (ornithologist) and Trecia Neal (wildlife expert) walked the property.

• HCA newsletter (distribution 1200) featured an article on the greenspace.

• Hawthorne Civic Association acquired a manual from a Trees Atlanta Greenspace workshop held in the fall of 2003. Beth Nathan acquired the book The Once and Future Forest .. a guide to forest restoration strategies by Leslie Jones Sauer.
• Commissioner Judy Yates held a public meeting on Parks Bond funds distribution, attended by 10-12 HCA residents.

• Neighborhood's planning group met, coming to consensus that the area should remain mostly wild and natural, perhaps becoming a nature preserve. Approximately 25 attendees including 16 abutting or very close to the greenspace, 3 churches, elementary school, civic association, DeKalb Parks & Rec Citizens Advisory Board, Trees Atlanta, an ornithologist, a Georgia Native Plant Society activist and a boy scout troop leader. There were a few other leaders who could not attend. A horticulturalist and a civil engineer specializing in water are willing to consult as needed.

• Greenspace walk-through with county staff Dave Butler, Connie Gray, John Bateman and about 20 neighbors.

• Greenspace workday with county staff Dave Butler, Connie Gray, cutting English ivy at the base of all trees. Three hour session with 20+ participating.

• Flair Forest Garden Club toured the Georgia Perimeter College Native Plants Garden with Kathryn Gable. Several members returned the following Saturday for a special event.
• HCA newsletter (distribution 1400+) featured an article on the greenspace.
• Three neighborhood reps joined with Connie Gray in a site meeting with the Blank Foundation.
• An additional greenspace walk-through for those who had not had a prior opportunity.

In December, the county removed a collapsed structure and other hazardous materials from the site and installed a gate. During the winter, the county's invasive plant control contractors will clear some overgrown non-native vines with additional work planned for the growing season. The county plans to begin a base ecological survey of the property around mid-winter -- cataloging existing natural features.

The Flair Forest Garden Club was told that the site is suitable for passive recreation (walking trails, nature education, etc), and that neighborhood input on its development would be welcomed. HCA plans to hold a winter meeting of neighbors, churches, schools, & representatives a few nature-oriented non-profit organizations. Others interested in contributing viewpoints should contact HCA President Beth Nathan.

There will be many future opportunities to volunteer physical assistance to the project. Use the membership survey to volunteer available person-power from your household.

ARMSTRONG GREENSPACE

With the county's acquisition of the Armstrong property (10.6 acres, Briarcliff Road just north of Shallowford), we have an opportunity to restore a small area of woods to a more natural condition and to provide ourselves with a gem in which to enjoy nature. In February, a diverse neighborhood committee met to discuss possibilities and issues and later took a guided walk. Another group participated in a March workday to cut ivy off trees. The county plans to schedule a "charette" meeting to garner everyone's thoughts on park planning, perhaps as early as mid-May. I expect the county to post neighborhood signs about the meeting. As soon as I know more, HCA will inform (primarily via e-mail) those who have expressed interest in the greenspace.

PLANT-LIFE by Beth Nathan

as learned from Connie Gray

If humans hadn't intervened in the past few centuries, the HCA area would likely be a forest. Metro Atlanta is losing forest, at a rate of up to 50 acres every day, losing large sections of a natural ecosystem that provides cooling shade, filters our air, shelters and feeds wildlife and whose open ground filters water on its way to streams and rivers. Our forest would likely be a mix of drier upland and mesic (moist but well-drained) piedmont forest types. In its maturity our forest canopy would have been primarily white oak and hickory with beech in more mesic areas; earlier in its life cycle the canopy would have contained more tulip poplar, red maple and loblolly pine. Smaller trees and shrubs would all have been deciduous, not evergreen. Light would have filtered through the canopy down to a scattering of wildflowers and leaf litter on the forest floor. In the many niches within the forest (the sunny spot on the forest floor, the depression where moisture collects, the north-facing slope where everything stays a little cooler, a dead standing tree), there would have been a wide diversity of plant life supporting a wide diversity of wildlife each in balance with the other.

Plants that would not naturally have occurred are called "exotics", some of which can be "invasive", no longer controlled by their native habitat, crowding out native plants upon which native wildlife depends. Many plants that do not impress us as beautiful plants, are critical to the life of some species of wildlife.

BIRD-LIFE by Georgann Schmalz

neighbor and professional ornithologist

Large forested lands are succumbing to urban growth and sprawl, being reduced to small wooded fragments. Many small protected "greenspaces" are surrounded by homes and yards that are often hostile to birds. There is a distinct and persistent decline of songbirds in small fragments of forest (less than 100 acres) despite their plant composition due to ecological factors including predation by cats, opossums and raccoons.

So how can we make our community a better place for birds?

• Step outside and inventory the treeless patches on your street—including your own front yard! Do you see open spaces with little or no vegetation that add to the loss of bird habitat and diversity?
• Vary your landscape with native trees and shrubs that offer both layers and diversity of vegetation.
• Select plants that offer flowers, seeds, nuts or berries for food throughout the year and dense cover for shelter in winter and nesting in summer.
• Do not leave pet food outside for predators like opossums and raccoons to eat.
• Keep your cat indoors. Period. Remove feral cats from the neighborhood.

Try to see your yard through the eyes of a Wood Thrush, a Ruby-throated Hummingbird or a Red-bellied Woodpecker. Try to picture your yard as part of the larger greenspace required by birds.