Douglasville Impact - Spring 2023

MAYOR’S GREETING

Welcome to our Douglasville Impact Newsletter. In this issue, you will find updates on various projects, park programs, and everything you need to know about the Electronics and Metal Recycling Event and the City’s 148th Birthday Party!

Make sure to follow us on our social media outlets and visit our website at DouglasvilleGA.gov to discover more information.

As we kickstart 2023, I look forward to completing the GreyStone Amphitheater and

Town Green here in Downtown Douglasville. Very soon, we’ll be able to bring amazing concerts, festivals, and all kinds of events to our city.

I’m so glad that you have chosen to call Douglasville home and can’t wait for you to enjoy all the things the city offers in the upcoming year. Douglasville is an amazing place and we are constantly expanding and inviting new businesses and residents to join our creative city! It is an exciting time to be in this community!

Thank you for your support and encouragement, we couldn’t do it without you!

God Bless you and your families!

REMEMBER THE 6 MONTH RULE

Challenge yourself to remove items you haven’t used in six or more months. Suggestions:

ALWAYS START SMALL

Try dividing the chores over time. On the first day, tackle the kitchen. On day two, all the restrooms and the laundry room. Living areas and shared spaces on day three.

THE FRIDGE AND PANTRY

Check the fridge, pantry, and drawers for expired items to throw away. Afterwards, clean the shelves and drawers with disinfecting wipes and reorganize the remaining items.

- Upcycle clothes by using donation bins or gifting them to friends/family. Research alternative options such as Facebook Marketplace or eBay.

- Bring scrap metal, appliances, & more to the Electronic & Metal Recycling Event on April 22nd .

- Organize and store sentimental/ seasonal items to create space in your living area.

ROCHELLE ROBINSON

YOUTH PROGRAMS

Youth LEAD Program

Tuesdays, Feb 28 - Mar 28

6:30 PM - 7:30 PM

Ike Owings Comm. Center

Healthy Snack Attack Fridays, March 3 - 31

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Ike Owings Comm. Center

Emoji Mondays, March 27 - April 24

4:30 PM - 6:00 PM

Ike Owings Comm. Center

Healthy Snacking / D’Ville Y Fit Fridays, April 14 - May 5

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Alice J. Hawthorne Comm. Center

Visit DouglasvilleParks.com for all registration info.

PARK UPDATES

2022 kicked off many updates and renovations to our city parks. Below are some of the updates you can look forward to in the future. All of the projects listed below are part of the Parks Master Plan, conducted in 2018.

WILLING WORKERS COMMUNITY CLUB PARK

This park will help revitalize the New Horizons community and provide a valuable resource for our children and their families to spend quality time outdoors. The ribbon cutting held in April 2022 launched the following improvements:

• Additional parking and safe access for pedestrians who wish to use the park in a community atmosphere.

• New walking trail providing connectivity in accordance with the city’s trail study.

• Upgraded pavilions.

JESSIE DAVIS MEMORIAL PARK

In November 2021, residents voted to approve a $25 million General Obligation Bond to fund the complete renovation of this park. A groundbreaking ceremony was held in April 2022 to start the following renovation efforts that will continue in 2023:

• New gymnasium with 2 basketball courts and a walking track

• Swimming pool upgrades

• New playgrounds

• New walking path

• Expanded parking

• New turf on the football field

CITY EVENTS

Sweetheart Dance

FRIDAY, FEB 3 @ 6PM

Ike Owings Comm. Center

Arbor Day Celebration

FRIDAY, FEB 17 @ 2PM

Hunter Memorial Park

3rd Annual Day of Unity

SATURDAY, FEB 18 @ 10AM

Douglasville Police Department

Behind the Veil

Bridal Showcase

SUNDAY, FEB 19 @ 2PM

Douglasville Conference Center

Base 2 Base Baseball Camp M-F, FEB 20-24, 9:30AM-3PM

Hunter Memorial Park

KDO Winter Break Camp

M-F, FEB 20-24, 8AM-6PM

Ike Owings Comm. Center

PD Evening Yoga

WEDNESDAY, FEB 22 @ 5:30PM

Douglasville Police Department

An Evening Celebration of Love and Black History

FRIDAY, FEB 24 @ 6PM

Alice J. Hawthorne Comm. Center

Douglasville’s 148th Birthday

SATURDAY, FEB 25 @ 6PM

Cultural Arts Center

R&B Saturdays: Rec & Brunch

SATURDAY, MARCH 11 @ 11AM

Fowler Field

Grown-ish: Adulting 101

MONDAY, MAR 13 @ 10AM

Ike Owings Comm. Center

St. Patty’s Day Lunch for 50+ FRIDAY, MAR 17 @ 12PM

Jessie Davis Park

Therapeutic Recreation: Paint with a Purpose

FRIDAY, MAR 17 @ 6PM

Hunter Memorial Park

Youth Peace Summit

SATURDAY, MAR 18 @ 1PM

Douglasville Police Department

PD Evening Yoga

WEDNESDAY, MAR 22 @ 5:30PM

Douglasville Police Department

Friday Night Fever: Soul Line Dancing

FRIDAY, MAR 24 @ 7PM

O’Neal Plaza

Community Job Fair

SATURDAY, MAR 25 @ 10AM

Douglasville Police Department

R&B Saturdays: Rec & Brunch

SATURDAY, MAR 25 @ 11AM

Willing Workers Park

Breakfast with the Easter Bunny

SATURDAY, APR 1 @ 9AM

Ike Owings Comm. Center

Spring Bicycle Ride

SATURDAY, APR 1 @ 7AM

Douglasville Police Department

Spring Festival

SATURDAY, APR 1 @ 10AM

Douglasville Police Department

KDO Spring Break Camp

M-F, APR 3-7, 7AM-6PM

Ike Owings Comm. Center

Base 2 Base Baseball Camp

M-F, APR 3-7, 9:30AM-3PM

Hunter Memorial Park

Easter Luncheon for 50+

THURSDAY, APR 6 @ 1PM

Alice J. Hawthorne Comm. Center

Jazz Concert with Joe Alterman

FRIDAY, APR 14 @ 7PM

O’Neal Plaza

Teatime with Tots

SATURDAY, APR 15 @ 10AM

Ike Owings Comm. Center

Electronics and Metal Recycling

SATURDAY, APR 22 @ 9AM

First Presbyterian Church 9190 Campbellton St.

SAVE THE DATE

SAT-SUN, JUN 3-4, 9AM-5PM

Douglasville + Douglas County

HydrangeaFest.org

FROM

MANAGER’S DESK

Over the past few years, the City of Douglasville has completed several plans and studies to help direct how we grow and develop as a community. With each of these projects, citizens have been heavily involved through town hall and stakeholder meetings, community surveys, and public input sessions. Transparency and community engagement in our planning process ensure that we are continuing to provide the services and amenities that citizens want to see.

In the fall of 2022, Douglasville reached out to the public once again to help develop a Town

NEIGHBOR Know Your

Center Implementation Strategy. The goal of these meetings was to gather public input on various potential projects and develop a roadmap for putting these plans into action.

This feedback becomes even more important as we prepare the budget for our next fiscal year, which begins on July 1st. City staff continues to focus on fiscal responsibility and transparency when it comes to taxpayer dollars. With the prioritized project list built from our Town Center Implementation Strategy, we can now start targeting budget dollars to implement the projects most

important to our citizens. To find out more about the City’s priority projects, the FY23 budget proposals, and upcoming budget hearings, visit DouglasvilleGA.gov.

THORPE FAMILY

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT DOUGLASVILLE?

I love the sense of extended family and belonging that is created through community gatherings

and working with nonprofits and small businesses to support our neighbors. Douglasville is a great place to live, play, and flourish!

WHAT IS DOUGLASVILLE’S HIDDEN GEM?

The many beautiful God-given landscapes, such as the sunset as viewed from the Ollie’s parking lot and the majestic view from the Legacy Lookout at Foxhall Resort.

HOW DO YOU ENGAGE IN ARTS AND CULTURE?

I am a proud member of the Cultural Arts Council and also a co-founder of the annual “Music & Arts on the Plaza” event. Along with co-founders Grete Carder and

Kascia Polk, I help host the community-sponsored event that is well attended and grows every year.

Arts & Culture are my passion and the heartbeat of our family business, Royal Accents . We host monthly entertainment nights: Raise the Praise, Soulful Sounds, and Jazz & Jokes, which provides artists a platform to showcase their talents while offering Douglas County residents an opportunity to enjoy amazing musicians, singers, comedy, poetry, and a nice vibe, minutes from home.

I’m excited for the opening of the Town Green and all the possibilities it will open for the arts.

MARCIA HAMPTON

KIARA FANNIN

Human Resources Generalist

MIRANDA JORDAN Staff Attorney

Working for the City of Douglasville has been immensely fulfilling. The City’s attention to their employees’ wellness makes it a family-oriented workplace that I am happy to call home.

I love working for the City of Douglasville because there is always something new to learn about government operations .

I love working for the City of Douglasville because they make me feel like a professional and not just a staff person. The City intentionally invests in my education and training to help me grow professionally and personally.

Working at the City of Douglasville has afforded me the privilege of collaborating with scores of talented people on issues that matter to myself and my community. The City’s culture of continued learning has made it great place to grow.

CRISTHTIAN PEREZ MOLINA Digital Media Designer

JOHN PENN Athletic Manager

DOUGLASVILLE CITY COUNCIL

FOR ALL CITY EVENTS AND INFORMATION, VISIT DOUGLASVILLEGA.GOV

TERRY S. MILLER Ward 1 678.449.3002 millert@douglasvillega.gov

NYCOLE MILLER

Ward 2, Post 1 678.449.3012 millern@douglasvillega.gov

MARK ADAMS

Ward 2, Post 2 678.449.3004 adamsm@douglasvillega.gov

DR. LASHUN BURR-DANLEY Ward 3, Post 1 678.449.3006 danleyl@douglasvillega.gov

ROCHELLE ROBINSON

SAM DAVIS Ward 3, Post 2 678.449.3007 daviss@douglasvillega.gov

COACH CHRIS WATTS Ward 4 678.449.3014 wattsc@douglasvillega.gov

HOWARD M. ESTES Ward 5 678.449.3010 estesh@douglasvillega.gov