Presentation is from Park Pride's 15th Annual Parks and Greenspace Conference. The speakers are Judy Hammack, Kimberly Kleiber, and Veronica Squires. Using several local case studies, this Friends of the Park panel will share their successful strategies that lead to the development of playful parks for visitors of all ages, from community engagement, negotiation and consensus building to fundraising and leveraging dollars, and much more

1. Park Pride Conference 2016
Parks & Play: A Conversation for All Ages
“HOW TO MAKE
YOUR VISION OF PLAY A REALITY”

2. “HOW TO MAKE
YOUR VISION OF PLAY A REALITY”
• Daniel Calvert, City of Atlanta Parks & Recreation Office of
Park Design
• Kimberly Kleiber, Friends of Ormond-Grant Park
• Veronica Squires, Friends of Reverend James Orange Park
• Judy Hammock, Friends of Lake Claire Park

3. “HOW TO MAKE
YOUR VISION OF PLAY A REALITY”
• You are the experts on your park & creating your vision of play!
– *However…there is a process for creating your vision…

4. “HOW TO MAKE
YOUR VISION OF PLAY A REALITY”
• Steering Committee #1
• Public Meeting #1
• Steering Committee #2
• Public Meeting #2
• Friends of the Park
• Neighborhood
• NPU (Neighborhood Planning Unit)
• Park Design Review
• Urban Design Commission
• *City Council Ordinance (Master Plan Only)
• Design Documents
• Permitting
• Construction
• Ribbon Cutting

5. DISCOVERY AND
STEERING
• Assemble Decision Makers and Identify Your Champions
– Start with a Steering Committee process…
• Ask Questions, Identify Issues, Strengths, Needs,
Opportunities to Frame and Define your Vision of Play.

6. TAKE IT PUBLIC AND
FIND YOUR COMMON GROUND
(VISIONING)
• Prepare for dissention and disagreement…good exchange of
different views and passionate ideas will create a quality vision
• Don’t be afraid of the public or your own neighborhood groups
and organizations…
• Create buy-in and consensus…advocacy is important to making
your vision a reality.
• Know your neighbors and Make it Fun to participate!

7. Presentation and Review
(Formal Vision Refinement)
• Approach Groups and Organizations
– Very succinctly describe your process and request a review for input and
comments.
– Seek Approval
• This can be a organizational letter, a formal vote or just the
documentation of input and presentation to the organization or
group.

8. Vision Approval And
Planning
Take your hard work and advocacy to the authorities…
• Park Design Permitting and Review
• Urban Design Commission Review and Comment
• Prepare yourself but don’t let paperwork and procedure stop
your vision of play from becoming a reality
• Utilize City and Park Pride Staff

9. Advocacy and Fundraising
Making Your Vision of Play A Reality.
• Utilize your resources
• Fundraise
• Leverage
• Advocate
• Implement
• Communicate
– Use your vision to speak their language
Neighborhood-Planners-Politicians

10. Kimberly Kleiber
ormondgrantpark@gpna.org

11. History & Background
Peoplestown
Summerhill Grant
Park

12. State of
the park

13. State of the park

14. Design
Process
4 phases
PHASE 1: CITY-FUNDED PLAYGROUND,
RAILING, WALKWAYAND WALL
PHASE 2: CITY-FUNDED ADA-SIDEWALK
PHASE 3: FRIENDS-FUNDED RAIN
GARDEN BIOSWALE AND STAIRCASE
PHASE 4: FRIENDS-FUNDED
BEAUTIFICATION

15. Communication & Fundraising

16. Outcomes & Takeaways
• Be flexible
• Ask questions
• Dream big

17. Outcomes & Takeaways

18. Outcomes & Takeaways

19. Outcomes & Takeaways

20. Kimberly Kleiber
ormondgrantpark@gpna.org

21. A Story of How One Neighborhood
Transformed Our Park

22. Our Mission
The mission of the Friends of Rev. James Orange Park at Oakland City is to serve as an advocate for the care, maintenance,
and enhancement of the park as a community park. RJOP’s aim is to make sure the grounds, facilities, and programs of
the park are worthy of being viewed as important community assets, worthy of being a destination site for community.

23. Our Process
• Strategic partnership with Park Pride
(Visioning Process)
• 16 Residents on Steering Committee
• 6 Public Meetings
• 4 Steering Committee Meetings
• Partners: Park Pride, City of Atlanta,
OCCO, NPU S, Finch Elementary,
Orange Family, Cathedral of Faith,
Local & Outside Donors
• Community Fundraising (Movie
Night & Game Night) & direct
solicitations
• Continued Advocacy with Local City
Leadership (2012-2015)

24. 
Our Outcomes
 $100,000 Legacy Grant
from Park Pride
 Additional Park Pride
Funds of $100,000+
 $2.5 million from City of
Atlanta
 New pool, bath house,
playground, splash pad,
landscaping, roads, lights,
etc.
 A safe, beautiful park that
is the pride of Oakland
City

25. 
 Make sure community
members involved
realize the vision will
not be realized
overnight
 Engage a grant writer
early on who can help
you craft your story
 Dream big & be
persistent
Our Lessons Learned

26. 
 Finish the Vision!
 7+ million total plan
 Partner with Park
Pride & City of
Atlanta again to
improve recreation
center (Teen Center)
& Teen programs
Next Steps

27. Lake Claire Park
Judy Hammock
• Introduction & Background of Neighborhood

28. Lake Claire Park
• State of the Park

29. Lake Claire Park
• Public Engagement, Community Involvement
• & Communication

30. Lake Claire Park
• Fundraising

31. “HOW TO MAKE
YOUR VISION OF PLAY A REALITY”
• The Process Varies
• Be Flexible
• Utilize City and Park Pride resources
• Use this conference as an opportunity
to become an expert on your vision of
play!