nature

We have Spruced Up the Median

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On October 20, the median landscaping work was completed on s. Hairston, just south of Redan.  We began the project as soon as we received a contribution from Commissioner Merida Davis Johnson.  It took a while (we’ve been waiting since May!), and we are grateful it’s done.

Special praise to a local landscaping company, Adams Landscape Group, for their excellent work.  (taglawns@msn.com)

Nov. 9 –Green New Deal Festival – Food! Music! Workshops! and More 

Join the DeKalb County Planning and Sustainability department, Super District 6 Commissioner Ted Terry, and 20+ other organizations for a day of education, celebration, and action at our family-friendly World Planning Day featuring the DeKalb Green New Deal Festival! Enjoy live music, food trucks, eco-friendly workshops, and inspiring connections centered on community building and environmental justice. Together, we’re creating a greener future for all!

Learn more at link below.

Join us Saturday, November 09, 2024, from 10 AM – 2 PM at the DeKalb Government Service Center (178 Sams St, Decatur, GA 30030.)

Parking is limited so we encourage guests to join us through MARTA. The DeKalb Government Service Center is easily accessible from the Avondale MARTA Station.

Dec. 8-9 – Indian Creek Marta Closed for a Very Good Reason

 Anew pedestrian bridge will be installed on Sunday and Monday, Dec. 8-9, 2024. The bridge spans over the tracks, so for the safety of our customers and employees, we have to briefly suspend rail service.   

The new pedestrian bridge will greatly improve pedestrian and cyclist access to the station and connect to a planned trail network. It’s one part of a major investment in the Indian Creek Station. Extensive upgrades to the platform, concourse, walls, furniture, elevator, lighting, public artwork, landscaping, as well as deep cleaning also will be completed as part of the renovation. The pedestrian bridge is scheduled for completion in April 2025 and the overall project is scheduled to be completed by Spring 2025.

Here’s what you need to know: 

  • Rail Suspension at Indian Creek: Sunday and Monday, Dec. 8-9, 2024.
  • Blue Line Service: Blue Line train service will not serve Indian Creek and will terminate at Kensington Station.
  • Shuttle Service: Temporary bus shuttles will take customers between Indian Creek Station and Kensington Station. Please allow at least 15 extra minutes for your trip.
  • Parking: Customers who drive are encouraged to park at Kensington Station. Parking at Indian Creek will remain open. 
  • Bus Routes: Local bus routes and schedules are unchanged. (MARTA routes 24, 107, 111, 116, 119 and Ride Gwinnett 70).

Coming Soon – A New Vision, A New Brand for the communities in and around Hidden Hills.

The Planning Department is going to conduct a study of how we would like the Greater Hidden Hills area to develop in coming years. This is the first stage of a re-write of the overlay code which went into effect in 2011.  It was designed to promote better business development and to protect greenspace. The overlay district runs from Covington Hwy to Redan Road, S. Hairston to Panola.  Dozens of neighborhoods within and around this area are affected by the code.

The code promoted mixed-use development in the commercial corridors which sadly has not come to pass. It prohibited certain types of businesses in commercial areas such as liquor stores and gas stations.  It encouraged the development of restaurants, medical and professional offices, banks, educational facilities, child care, fitness centers, retail shops, and many other businesses.  One of the goals of the rewrite is to embed incentives to attract the new businesses.  Some of us who helped work on that code are still around, but there are many new neighbors, and we want to hear from you. Stay tuned for details on the first survey to get your ideas.

Redan Road: Check Out the Final Plan

DeKalb County conducted a study of the Redan Road Corridor to identify opportunities to improve the transportation network. This was a jointly funded study by DeKalb County and the Atlanta Regional Commission.

The study identified three major projects to improve overall capacity, safety, and operations to provide mobility along the corridor for walking, biking, transit, cars and trucks. The proposed projects were vetted with the public and agency stakeholders. Two in-person public meetings, two online survey sessions, and four agency stakeholder meetings were completed. These transportation infrastructure projects will address the challenges identified from the existing conditions analysis and identified during the community outreach activities of the study. 

Review the recommendations by clicking here.

Let’s Come together and enhance Biffle Park!

This 10-acre park is located between Hidden Hills and Kelley’s Place, and it is a jewel of the greater community. 

With your support, Friends of Biffle Park will add mileage markers, rejuvenate three large planters with vibrant paint and colorful plants, and protect the beauty of our native flora.  Will you give $5 to $10 so that we can purchase supplies?

Your contribution isn’t just a donation—it’s an investment in a greener, more inviting Biffle Park for everyone to enjoy! Please donate by clicking this link. 

Did you know:

  • Within a 20-minute walk of the park, there are approximately 8,370 people, with 22% under the age of 19.
  • Within a 15-minute drive, the park is accessible to around 230,200 people, with 24% under the age of 19.


If you prefer, you may send a check to Friends’ sponsoring non-profit Greater Hidden Hills CDC
P.O. Box 1811
Stone Mountain, GA 30087
(501c3) Let us know it is for Biffle Park.

You are Invited to Grow Your Own Food in the Redan Community Garden

It’s time to start your fall vegetable garden, and our neighbors welcome you to join the Redan Community Garden.  It is at 5338 Redan Road, just down the street from Redan High School.  Garden fees are reasonable, $15.00 for fall, and $15.00 for spring, and that gives you plenty of space and water.  See the attached vegetable planting guide for ideas on what to grow now.

You may contact Calvin E. Sims, Sr., 706-572-1425 (cell) or cesims@bellsouth.net for more information.


Save the Date to Plant a Tree!

In December, we’re planting 65 trees in the Hidden Hills area, and we’d love to have your help. Please save Saturday morning, Dec. 7, to spend time with tree friends. With all the development in this part of the County and the loss of trees in front yards, we have lost a significant portion of the tree canopy.  The young trees will grow up and provide shade – cooling the environment – and help clean the air and water.

Please join us and bring your friends!    

We would like to thank those of you who have contributed to the Greater Hidden Hills CDC this year.

Your support helps us maintain our 501c3 status as a nonprofit, pay for our website and email notices, and other operational expenses. We work on behalf of all communities in and adjacent to the Hidden Hills overlay district. We would appreciate your financial donation.

Membership is $25 for individuals and $125 for neighborhood associations and businesses each year. 

You can make a difference!

Or donate directly through PayPal

Thank you for reading.  Let’s keep working together to leave our community better than we found it!

Written and prepared by Jan Costello.

Comments? Questions? Our email is GHHCDC@gmail.com

Keep up with the latest developments and ways to support your community

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Planning Commission Recommends Wendy’s on Redan Road

Wendy’s lease for the restaurant on S. Hairston Road is about to expire. It wants to move to the empty lot in front of Brusters on Redan Road and build its own restaurant to better meet the needs of its patrons. It needed special permission to add a drive-through. It will still have indoor seating, and it will add streetscape improvements.

The request was recommended for approval by the Planning Commission with 12 conditions.   To see the case, click on this link and scroll down to Planning Commission/N2-2024-0891.

It was supposed to be reviewed by the Board of Commission Sept. 26, but Hurricane Helene caused the meeting to be cancelled. At this time, it has not been rescheduled. Click here for the latest news on the new date.

A Clearer Look: PathLink Update

DeKalb County is investing in new signs and safety improvements to help people just north of Memorial Drive make better use of the Stone Mountain Trail. On Oct. 2, 6 p.m., the County will hold a virtual meeting to provide updates and to take feedback and questions. If you would like to attend, please register for the webinar at https://tinyurl.com/pathlink2

This is the first Wayfinding project for trails. It will serve as the baseline for improving signage for other DeKalb trails.

You can learn more about this project at the Engage DeKalb page here.  The recording of the meeting will also be posted shortly following the meeting.

If you have questions or comments about the project, please contact Tricia Prevost, AICP, tcprevost@dekalbcountyga.gov

Let’s Come together and enhance Biffle Park!

This 10-acre park is located between Hidden Hills and Kelley’s Place, and it is a jewel of the greater community.  With your support, Friends of Biffle Park will add mileage markers, rejuvenate three large planters with vibrant paint and colorful plants, and protect the beauty of our native flora. Will you give $5 to $10 so that we can purchase supplies?

Your contribution isn’t just a donation—it’s an investment in a greener, more inviting Biffle Park for everyone to enjoy! Please donate by clicking this link. 

Did you know:

  • Within a 20-minute walk of the park, there are approximately 8,370 people, with 22% under the age of 19.
  • Within a 15-minute drive, the park is accessible to around 230,200 people, with 24% under the age of 19.


If you prefer, you may send a check to Friends’ sponsoring non-profit Greater Hidden Hills CDC
P.O. Box 1811
Stone Mountain, GA 30087
(501c3) Let us know it is for Biffle Park.

Join Us for Fitness & Fun

Saturday, Oct. 12, 8:00 a.m.,at the Biffle Park Gazebo.

This is a great time to meet neighbors while enjoying a light workout. Hope to see you there!

You are Invited to Grow Your Own Food in the Redan Community Garden

It’s time to start your fall vegetable garden, and our neighbors welcome you to join the Redan Community Garden.  It is at 5338 Redan Road, just down the street from Redan High School.  Garden fees are reasonable, $15.00 for fall, and $15.00 for spring, and that gives you plenty of space and water.  See the attached vegetable planting guide for ideas on what to grow now.

You may contact Calvin E. Sims, Sr., 706-572-1425 (cell) or cesims@bellsouth.net for more information.

Coming Soon – Envisioning Greater Hidden Hills

The Planning Department is going to conduct a study of how we would like the Greater Hidden Hills area to develop in coming years. This is the first stage of a re-write of the overlay code which went into effect in 2011.  It was designed to promote better business development and to protect greenspace. The overlay district runs from Covington Hwy to Redan Road, S. Hairston to Panola.  Dozens of neighborhoods within and around this area are affected by the code.

The code promoted mixed-use development in the commercial corridors which sadly has not come to pass. It prohibited certain types of businesses in commercial areas such as liquor stores and gas stations.  It encouraged the development of restaurants, medical and professional offices, banks, educational facilities, child care, fitness centers, retail shops, and many other businesses.  One of the goals of the rewrite is to embed incentives to attract the new businesses.  Some of us who helped work on that code are still around, but there are many new neighbors, and we want to hear from you. Stay tuned for details on the first meeting which is expected to be near the end of October.

Teenagers, Mark Your Calendars – Apply for Trees Atlanta PAID Summer Program

On November 15, applications will be accepted for the Youth Tree Team, a paid summer job training program. Explore green jobs with hands-on experience while working alongside Trees Atlanta staff. Participate in weekly development programs, including building job seeking skills and establishing financial literacy.

This program is open to applicants currently enrolled in high school or matriculating into high school. Must be 14 years of age or older as of May 1 to be eligible.

Please click here for more information. The page also provides information on a 10-week urban forestry career program for young adults ages 18-30. 

Which side of the tree has the most leaves? 
The outside!

Just a Little Fun Before We Dig In!

In December, we’re planting 65 trees in the Hidden Hills area, and we’d love to have your help. Please save Saturday morning, Dec. 7, to spend time with tree friends. With all the development in this part of the County and the loss of trees in front yards, we have lost a significant portion of the tree canopy.  The young trees will grow up and provide shade – cooling the environment – and help clean the air and water.

Please join us and bring your friends!  

Slaughterhouse Saga – National News

I want to share with you an article about the slaughterhouse saga.  Remember how long it took us to get that shut down –4.5 years!

https://sentientmedia.org/community-members-backyard-slaughterhouse/

It’s published by Sentient Media, a  “nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that publishes stories and solutions to explain factory farms and their effect on climate, animals, public health, politics and more.”  They had reached out to Christopher Eubanks, and he provided my name.

Still Waiting to Make Improvements on S. Hairston/Redan

We are still waiting for the contribution from Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson to spruce up the median on S. Hairston across from Kroger. The request has been winding its way through the procurement process since May 21. We’ll keep you posted.

We would like to thank those of you who have contributed to the Greater Hidden Hills CDC this year.

Your support helps us maintain our 501c3 status as a nonprofit, pay for our website and email notices, and other operational expenses. We work on behalf of all communities in and adjacent to the Hidden Hills overlay district. We would appreciate your financial donation.

Membership is $25 for individuals and $125 for neighborhood associations and businesses each year. 

You can make a difference!

Or donate directly through PayPal

Thank you for reading.  Let’s keep working together to leave our community better than we found it!

Written and prepared by Jan Costello.

Comments? Questions? Our email is GHHCDC@gmail.com

Park News and Streetscapes

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Enjoy a Walk in Biffle Park and a Special Treat

On May 11, 8 a.m., meet at the gazebo in Biffle Park for a fun walk with neighbors and new friends.   The address is 5221 Biffle Road, Stone Mountain.We’ve had two great walks already – and it was a wonderful way to exercise with neighbors and get to know them.

This time, we’ll include a short walk down one of the cleared golf course trails so you can see the progress the Hidden Hills Civic Association is making in the area. The walk will last just under an hour. 

We hope you can join the Walk on May 11. There will be one more on May 18, 8 a.m., so mark your calendar.  All this fitness is preparing us for the annual Hidden Hills 5K on the 2nd Saturday of June. You can register for that event on the We Are Hidden Hills website.

Advocate for Our Parks

The DeKalb County Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs will hold a Parks Citizen Advisory Board Committee meeting on Tuesday, May 14 at 6 p.m. at the East Central DeKalb Community Senior Center, 4885 Elam Road, Stone Mountain, Ga. 30083. At the beginning of the meeting, the public is invited to ask questions. Then, the Parks director gives status reports. We encourage you to attend because parks with advocates get better service!

The parks that serve the Greater Hills community include Hairston, Biffle, and Wade Walker. In order to protect and improve these parks, we need community advocates to speak up and pitch in.  Parks improve our quality of life and help to attract businesses and residents to the County. First-rate parks and recreation programs and facilities are a competitive advantage for DeKalb County in economic development.

Parks provide tremendous benefits to communities –they give us natural areas for recreation, and they help conserve our green environment and protect our watershed. Spending time outdoors reduces stress and improves health.  There are economic benefits as well.  The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) reports that last year, parks and recreation agencies generated more than $201 billion in economic activity and supported almost 1.1 million jobs.

To dive deeper into the benefits of parks, read the NRPA report.

If You See Something, Say Something

The Friends of Hairston Park have been working hard since 2017 to improve the park. Recently, the Friends were shocked to discover that someone stole two planters next to the kiosk. The Friends raised the money to build the kiosk and purchase the pots, and they were finished just a few months ago.  These planters were heavy. The thieves had to carry them at least 30 feet to reach the parking lot.  If you have any information about the pots, please write to FriendsofHairstonPark@gmail.com.

These are the pots that were stolen two weeks ago.

This is not the first time we have experienced setbacks in Hairston Park. Many of our lovely signs were destroyed, and some people have been tearing up the plants in the nature garden. We all want nice things in our community, but there are people who have no respect or are so angry that they seek relief in doing harm. If only they would put that energy into giving back, they would be so much happier. May the volunteer spirit engage their souls.

In the meantime, we need your eyes and ears on the park. Speak up if it looks safe to do so. If you see vandalism in action or other criminal behavior, call 911.  The Police Department needs to know what’s going on in our parks.  Also, report problems to the Parks Dept. at 404 371-2111.

Median on S. Hairston/Redan

Yes, we know that the median across from Kroger needs sprucing up.  The Greater Hidden Hills CDC provided all plants and much labor for the initial installation in 2017. The plants continue to thrive. We have spent more than $7,500 and hundreds of volunteer hours keeping it up over the years. The County has not had to lift a finger on that strip in seven years.  But now, we ask for County help because we simply do not have the funds or volunteers to do what is needed. We asked the County to provide mulch, trimming and week whacking to get it back into shape.  We have reached out to Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson to help us get the County to respond. She says she is working on it. 

We have received complaints from neighboring communities about the look of the median. They often compare it to the beautiful medians on Wesley Chapel/I-20 and Wesley Chapel/S Hairston, without accounting for the fact that the businesses in that area tax themselves to maintain the medians. We have relied on donations.

We are certain that attractive public space builds stronger communities and enhance economic development. If you would like to join us and urge the County to spruce up this 400-foot stretch of median, please write to the commissioner at: mdjohnson@dekalbcountyga.gov and copy Director of Constituent Services, Demetrius Pinkett, at lpinkett@dekalbcountyga.gov

We would like to thank those of you who have contributed to the Greater Hidden Hills CDC this year.

We work on behalf of all communities in and adjacent to the Hidden Hills overlay district. We would appreciate your financial donation.

Membership is $25 for individuals and $125 for neighborhood associations and businesses each year. 

You can make a difference!

or donate directly through PayPal:

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=RC6HZUCJTGPVY

Thank you for reading.  Let’s keep working together to leave our community better than we found it!

Comments? Questions? Our email is GHHCDC@gmail.com