Clairmont Heights Civic Association

DeKalb county is updating the 1988 master plan for Mason Mill Park. They asked for community input at the first of three meetings Thursday, September 25, at the Senior Center in Mason Mill Park. The second will be held in October and the last one in November or December. The county promised to distribute a summary of comments from the first meeting before the second meeting. Those who could not make the first meeting in person are invited to submit their comments to the project manager John Anderson at janderson@co.dekalb.ga.us or 404-371-2631 or DeKalb County Parks and Recreation Department, 1300 Commerce Drive, Suite 200, Decatur, GA 30030. The county indicated there is about two million dollars available from the 2006 parks bond for improvements; others in the audience thought the figure was closer to three million (e.g., see GoDekalb article). After evaluating community input, the master planners will conduct their own field studies, balance the various interests, see what’s feasible, and make a list of recommendations and assign priorities.

About one hundred people attended the meeting, including commissioner Jeff Rader, Parks director Marilyn Boyd Drew, and deputy director Marvin Billups. The meeting was led by the master plan contractor MACTEC, Inc. with John Anderson, Marilyn Boyd Drew, and Jeff Rader occasionally responding to specific questions. Everyone was invited to sign in and write comments on a form or speak their mind from the floor. The session leader gave everyone a chance to speak until no one had anything more to say. At the beginning, the following overview was presented: Mason Mill Park is about 130 acres, of which 50% is floodplain, 25% or 32 acres is wetland, 30% or 48 acres is woodland. The Senior center and tennis center areas cover about 27 acres. The following summary of comments is offered by CHCA members who attended. The official Parks summary may be different. See also the CHCA website for more info: Google Map of our parks, the 1988 Master Plan and the South Peachtree Creek Trail.

• Tennis Center: Various people asked that the tennis center be improved, e.g., improve restrooms, add food concession, add handicapped access, add practice wall, improve lighting, replace pyramid with bleachers, add recycling service.
• Playground: Some wanted a playground next to the Tennis Center. A couple people thought a section of the parking lot could be converted to that use because it was rarely full. Someone asked that it be next to the senior garden for the sake of mixing generations.
• Running track: Someone requested a professional track with two lanes and mileage markers.
• Water Works: Comments were to clean it up, make it safe, remove standing water, add interpretive signage, and use the site to educate public on water-related issues.
• Dogs: People asked the county to fix Dog Park drainage, add benches, and add paved path with trash cans. One person wanted dogs to have free range access to the rest of the park. Another complained about unleashed dogs coming across the creek into their yard.
• South Peachtree Creek Trail: Some wanted it removed, some wanted it completed. Someone liked the access it gave from Medlock Park. Another wanted it “softened” with better access to and from dirt trails. Another wanted it extended to Desmond Drive on one end and to Avis Library on the other. Another asked that the South Fork Peachtree Creek trail provide connectivity between the playground at Medlock to any new playground at Mason Mill. Another asked for non-vehicle access to Mason Mill from the Leafmore Hills neighborhood on the other side of North Druid Hills Road.
• Natural areas: Someone wanted forested areas turned into nature preserves and opposed any further development. Another asked for planting of more trees and native vegetation. Another wanted restoration of the dam so that a lake would be formed. Another wanted improvements at the beaver pond, e.g., an observation deck.
• Speeding: Someone complained about speeding on the McConnell Drive entryway to the park.
• Offroad biking: It was said that bikers use the park and should be considered in the plan.
• Dirt trails: Comment was that there are too many dirt trails, because individuals make their own without regard to erosion or vegetation. Recommendation was made to create a management plan, e.g., designate official trails, restore vegetation in others.
• Melton Park: Several asked for connectivity between Melton and Mason Mill parks, esp. at the South Peachtree Creek crossing where only a makeshift homemade bridge provides off and on access.
• Maintenance: Someone wanted provision made for regular pickup of trash and debris.
• Run off: Someone asked to have stormwater runoff mitigated from developed areas around the Tennis Center into Burnt Fork Creek.
• Senior Center: Someone asked that programming and facilities be coordinated with the new senior center proposed for Toco Hills.
• Development at the edges: Someone asked that the park be protected from development at the edges, e.g., redevelopment at Williamsburg.