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PROJECTS
As Candler Park Conservancy works towards our exciting long-term Vision Plan, we are currently advancing specific initiatives to bring immediate improvements to the Park. BATHROOMS After a 20-plus year hiatus, the Candler Park bathrooms are open. After an extensive repainting, repairing, re-lighting, and several deep cleanings, they are ready for your next park visit. They are located at the pool house and face the parking lot near the underwater mural. Thanks go out to CIty Councilmember Amir Farokhi and the voters in the CP Decides Initiative from 2021, City Councilmember Matt Westmoreland, the City of Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation for expert guidance and financial support, Atlanta ContactPoint and the many Candler Park Conservancy members who donated and worked hard to see this happen. BIKE RACKS New bike racks were installed at the playground and athletic fields to support cyclists using alternative transportation using Candler Park. These racks, created by Fred Martin Wielding in Old Fourth Ward, add both artistic and functional elements to the park.
KUDZU AND INVASIVES REMOVAL Trees Atlanta and Candler Park Conservancy, with additional help from City Councilmember Amir Farokhi's CP Decides funds, are clearing out the invasive kudzu & their friends from the hillside above the athletic fields. Work is ongoing, but it is a stunning difference. More plantings and applications to come in the spring on this five year project! Thanks for your support! CANDLER PARK DECIDES In summer of 2021, Atlanta City Councilmember Amir Farokhi launched a participatory budgeting initiative called "Candler Park Decides!" to allow voters to select how discretionary budgets would be spent in their local area. The voters of Candler Park selected several projects that were submitted and also partially funded by the Candler Park Conservancy or our partners. This initiative brought over $90,000 worth of project to our park. * Reopening the public bathrooms, $12,500 CP Decides grant toward a $32,000 project; * Pool facelift, furniture and mural, $10,000 CP Decides grant toward a $22,000 project; * Active slope kudzu removal and native trees, $5,000 CP Decides grant toward a $24,000 multiyear project; * Snazzy bike racks, $4,000 CP Decides grant toward $5,500 installation; * Repair & move benches, $2,700 CP Decides grant toward $4,000 expense; * Urban orchard - $1,980 CP Decides grant toward $4,265 total; * “Beaver Buddy” public art - $1,500 CP Decides grant toward $2,500 installation |
AMY ERWIN MEMORIAL GARDEN
In the memory and honor of Amy Erwin (1961-2018), we have recently installed a shade garden on the southern side of the Park where the pedestrian path from McLendon Avenue NE crosses through a meadow between the Park's wooded coves. The garden will beautify this corridor of the Park, serve as a place for quite contemplation of the Park's natural areas, and stand as an enduring reminder of Amy and her profound commitment to Candler Park. Amy was, among many other things, a founding board member of the Conservancy. She was beloved and respected for her strength of spirit, wit, charm, and intelligence -- and for her significant and long-standing volunteer service to the stewardship, beautification and improvement of Candler Park.
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NATURAL SPACE RESTORATION PROJECTS
Candler Park Conservancy is undertaking a multi-year initiative to remove invasive, non-native plants from key natural areas of Candler Park including primarily the wooded coves in the southeast corner of the Park between Callan Circle and the parking lot and passive areas along the park's riparian corridor. This multi-faceted process involves extensive cutting and selective treatments to allow the native species to thrive and return these important habitats to states of sustainability, health and beauty. Certain invasives removal initiatives were made possible through a generous grant from Georgia Audubon's habitat restoration fund in order to improve areas of the park as bird habitat. We have also worked on complementary projects, both independently and through collaboration with Trees Atlanta and other project partners, on initiatives to install new, site-appropriate native trees and vegetation in selected areas within Candler Park. These initiatives are part of our commitment to preserving the natural aspects of the park and also allows us to pursue some of the secondary paths as outlined in our Vision Plan.
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BIKE REPAIR STATION
Candler Park Conservancy and the PATH Foundation added a new Dero "Fixit" Bike Station to the northeast corner of the Park on the Stone Mountain Trail. The Fixit Station includes all of the tools necessary to perform basic bike repairs and maintenance, from changing a flat to adjusting brakes and derailleurs. The tools are securely attached to the stand with stainless steel cables and tamper-proof fasteners. Hanging the bike from the hanger arms allows the pedals and wheels to spin freely while making adjustments. This station benefits the many recreational and commuter cyclists who pass this point as it is a nexus for travel to Emory University, the Atlanta Beltline, Candler Park MARTA Station, Downtown, and Decatur in addition to students from Mary Lin Elementary and Paideia Schools.
PARK ENTRANCE LANDSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS
Candler Park Conservancy drove the design and installation of significant landscape improvements at the Park entrance from McLendon Avenue NE. We fully re-imagined what was formerly an overgrown and unkempt area with a view to creating a low maintenance but gorgeous gateway to Candler Park. After working with landscape designers and the City of Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation, we developed and implemented a plan to beautify the park entrance using stone and local vegetation in a way that would thrive now and in the future. The before and after images here highlight the meaningful aesthetic impact of this effort.
In addition to major contributions of time and money from the Candler Park Conservancy and its amazing volunteers, this project was made possible by design work by Elise Cormier, a number of plants and bulbs from Intown Ace Hardware, as well as materials and labor from Chandler Hardscapes.
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PARK ENTRANCE LIGHTING RESTORATION
Candler Park Conservancy led efforts to restore lighting at the entrance to the Park from McLendon Avenue NE with artist-created lanterns.
The park’s entrance gates were originally designed and erected in 1932 by the firm of Edwards & Sayward (designers of the Candler Park golf clubhouse) with electric lights to accentuate the stone entrance. The original lights and fixtures had been vandalized sometime previous to 1980, with only the junction boxes and shards of the brackets remaining. The new design was inspired both by the work of the original architects (who did similar lights at Buttrick Hall at Agnes Scott College), as well as the fragments of the original lights remaining on the gates.
The bronze, solar powered lights installed by the Conservancy are the product of the hard work of multiple people including Candler Park Conservancy Board Member Amy Erwin and the Beltline artist and fabricator, Cash Barnes. We also thank CPNO and the Urban Design Commission for their support on this project. Funding for the design, creation and installation of these lights was provided by the Candler Park Conservancy and Park Pride.
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PARK BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTS
Candler Park Conservancy has undertaken a number of volunteer-based workday projects to help beautify and brighten up Candler Park with landscape installation, mulching and weeding, as well as the removal of litter and refuse.
The project highlighted here involved installation of a variety of colorful plants around the Candler Park Pool and Pool House. The plants for this project were donated by Linley Branham with Constellation Energy.
GOLF COURSE ENHANCEMENTS
Candler Park Conservancy has long explored opportunities to participate in efforts to improve the historic Candler Park Golf Course. As part of that effort, the Conservancy led an initiative in 2019 to install focused course enhancements like a golf ball washer and a cleat cleaner for use by the Park's active golfing community. The Conservancy has also collaborated with other stakeholders to evaluate and advance significant initiatives to improve the aesthetic, sporting, and natural quality of the course and to reconcile the diverse community interests therein.
