Month: May 2026

Enjoy Our Parks

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Exciting things are happening in our community’s parks, and we invite you to participate in the events.

Annual Hidden Hills 5k Walk/Run/or Bike

Fun for all ages!

June 13, 8:30 a.m., at Biffle Park

5221 Biffle Rd, Stone Mountain, GA
Stone Mountain, GA US 30088

The registration fee is still only $25/adult, children 12 and under are free! Group discounts are available for 3 or more. Click here to register now.   Prices go up in June.

Sponsors, please reach out for partnership info! RSVP Now!

Updates and Events at Hairston Park

A heartfelt thanks to Nicole Jones, Realtor, and to all of Keller Williams Realty for choosing Hairston Park for a large community service project May 14. Volunteers spread mulch, planted flowers, and painted benches.  RED Day, an annual tradition of Renew, Energize, and Donate, is a marvelous example of business supporting community.

Keller Williams Realty Spreads the Love at Hairston Park 

June 12, 9 – 10 a.m. Join park lovers from the metro area on a walking tour of Hairston Park

We will show off the recently cleared path from the park to the Senior/Community Center!  We’ll walk through the Serenity Garden, explore other paths, and bring people up-to-date on the lake improvements.

889 S Hairston Road, Stone Mountain

Click here for more info.

Update:  The lake at Hairston Park is being restored.  The Parks Department is installing a new siphon system and making improvements to the dam and lake. The area will be closed until the work is complete in September/October 2026. 

The water quality of the lake has been poor for years. Parks Department Assistant Director Paige Singer says that these improvements “will enhance water quality, circulation, and overall ecological health. These upgrades are expected to create a more sustainable and supportive environment for fish, turtles, aquatic vegetation, and other wildlife, ultimately improving habitat conditions throughout the park for years to come.”

Ms. Singer notes that there will be an impact on the aquatic life – many species will relocate on their own during the disruption, but it will be temporary.  “Our approach is to avoid disturbing or handling wildlife whenever possible, as direct removal can often create additional stress and harm to the animals.”

The rehabilitation project is designed to significantly improve long-term environmental conditions within the lake. It is the Parks Department’s third large dam rehabilitation project.

The Parks Department intends to put up informational signs soon and to have a community walkthrough at the midpoint of the project.   

Great American Campout and Environmental Day

Mark your calendar for June 27, 10 am – 2 pm.  It’s a day of outdoor fun, learning and adventure.  There will be camping demonstrations, nature activities, birding, wildlife exploration, and environmental exhibits.  It’s free and open to all.

For more info, write to FriendsofHairstonPark@gmail.com

Please volunteer to help set up or tear down. Click here to sign up.    

Focus on Liquor Stores

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Our community faces another challenge to our vision of economic diversity and prosperity. We have many liquor stores, beauty shops, dollar stores, and auto-related businesses. Now, a developer wants to put in a liquor store in the closed Walgreens at Covington and Hairston, 5395 Covington Highway, Stone Mountain, Ga. We deserve a diversity of businesses that cater to a wider array of interests and necessities.

There are 22 liquor stores within five miles of this location, shown below.  (Data from ESRI Business Analyst, May 2026)

Click here for a list that names each one, with addresses. 


Studies, such as one by the Georgia State University Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, show that communities with a high density of liquor stores often experience increased crime rates and suffer from lower residential property values.  This is not the vision for our community we aspire to; we want a neighborhood that fosters safety, prosperity, and variety.

This isn’t a fight against existing businesses, but a plea for balance. We welcome many types of new businesses. In the spring, the community responded to a Planning Department survey and overwhelmingly asked for more cafes and restaurants (no fast food), high quality grocery stores, a variety of retail options, entertainment venues, and professional services. We encourage developers to consider the demand for higher-end businesses in our area. They could capture the dollars we spend in Decatur, Avondale Estates, Tucker, and north DeKalb.

The developer needs approval from County officials. Read the Special Land Use Permit application by clicking here.

There are many ways to let elected officials know your opinion.

1.  Sign this petition to say “No” to another liquor store and “Yes” to a more diverse and vibrant future. Together, we can influence the change we want to see.

https://www.change.org/no_more_liquor_stores

2.  Send your comments to the Planning Department, and they will be forwarded to the case manager and Planning Commissioners:   plansustain@dekalbcountyga.gov

It’s also important to let our commissioners know your opinion. Write to:

Commissioner Mereda Davis-Johnson, District 5, mdjohnson@dekalbcountyga.gov

Commissioner LaDena Bolton, District 7, labolton@dekalbcountyga.gov

3. Attend the Protests May 30 and June 6, 3 – 6 pm.

A group called United Neighbors for a Strong Community is organizing the protests. Meet on the public sidewalks of all 4 corners of Hairston/Covington Hwy. 

For more information, contact Dawn Foster at dawfoste90@yahoo.com and John McMillion at mcmillionj2@outlook.com.

4. Attend the public meetings. The District 5 Community Council meeting is June 8, 6:30 pm via Zoom.  The Planning Commission hears the case on Zoom July 7, 6 p.m. Links will be provided closer to the date. The Board of Commissioners  hears it in person July 23, 5:30 pm at 178 Sams Street, Decatur..

Sign the Petition! Say No to Another Liquor Store

GHHCDC

Our community has too many liquor stores, beauty shops, dollar stores, and auto-related businesses. And now, a developer wants to put in a liquor store in the closed Walgreens at Covington and Hairston, 5395 Covington Highway, Stone Mountain, Ga. We deserve a diversity of businesses that cater to a wider array of interests and necessities. This isn’t a fight against existing businesses, but a plea for balance.

Studies, such as one by the Georgia State University Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, show that communities with a high density of liquor stores often experience increased crime rates and suffer from lower residential property values. We already have more than 120 places where you can buy alcohol within a five-mile radius of the Walgreens site. This is not the vision for our community we aspire to; we want a neighborhood that fosters safety, prosperity, and variety.

Please sign this petition, and share the link with your networks.

https://www.change.org/no_more_liquor_stores

We’re not just resisting another liquor store; we are advocating for new and innovative businesses—cafés, high-quality grocery stores, sit-down restaurants, bookstores, family-friendly entertainment venues, and local artisan shops—that can transform our community into a vibrant, safe, and inviting environment.

By opposing yet another liquor store, we are advocating for a future where our neighborhood flourishes through diverse businesses. These businesses can enrich our daily lives and strengthen our community’s sense of identity and belonging.

If you agree that our community deserves better, sign this petition to say “No” to another liquor store and “Yes” to a more diverse and vibrant future. Together, we can influence the change we want to see.