2nd Annual Park Renewal Day a Success

On November 7^th, teams from local organizations and schools came out to compete for prize money as part of an ongoing effort to rid local parks of invasive plants and debris. By the end of the second annual Park Renewal Day, hosted by Renewal Design-Build, the DeKalb County Parks Department, and City of Decatur, competitors at Dearborn Park were weary from pulling up ivy and privet, but had a real sense of accomplishment and community.

Decatur Mayor Bill Floyd and DeKalb County COO Keith Barker assisted in the scoring of the teams’ plots. The prize money, donated by Renewal Design-Build, was given to the five highest-scoring teams. The grand prize of $1,000 went to the Midway Woods Neighborhood Association – appropriately named “Ivy League” – while two teams from Decatur High School students won 4^th and 5^th places. Groups from Hands On Atlanta and All Souls Fellowship also took home top prizes. A celebration of food and music from local Decatur band, The Grits, followed the cleanup.

The success of this public/private initiative has incited talks of expanding the event into other areas of Atlanta and to other parks. “In just a few hours, we saved over 100 old growth trees from being strangled by invasive plant species, and prize money was put back into the community,” says Renewal CEO and Park Renewal Day co-founder, Peter Michelson. “It’s amazing what can happen when you give people an incentive.”

And, the proof is in the park. “It’s great to see what the community’s efforts have brought to Dearborn Park,” says Mayor Bill Floyd. “If you haven’t walked through, do so.”

More pictures to be posted on ParkRenewalDay.com shortly!