However, the 2018 survey pointed out an increased awareness of parks that historically have been less frequently used and an expressed willingness of individuals to bike and walk to parks. 37%) in favor of supporting a millage increase to pay for park improvements.Īccording to the survey, the five most visited parks were consistent with the 2014 results: Blackburn, Murphy Candler, Brookhaven, Ashford and Lynnwood parks. When it came to funding for the park system, support was two-to-one (63% vs. In the new survey, this was an issue with only 24% of those responding. In 2014, 57% of respondents had concerns about the overall conditions of the parks. Other vital points gleaned from the survey dealt with past barriers to park usage and data regarding funding of park renovations and upgrades. “As part of our Parks and Recreation master plan, it is essential that we seek input from residents…these parks are there for their use and meeting the residents’ needs is the foundation of any planning process,” said Brian Borden, Brookhaven Parks and Recreation Director. Questions were posed about parks and recreation participation, needs and desires for public recreation in addition to queries regarding funding of parks and recreation facilities, programs and operations. The survey’s purpose was to gather information regarding the City’s 14 parks to see if attitudes, participation and needs have changed over the past four years. Nearly 25,000 surveys were sent to Brookhaven residents, in Spanish and English, with 853 respondents. The overall “good” performance of the City’s park system more than quadrupled from those in a similar 2014 survey from 14% to a whopping 61%, as safety concerns decreased from 30% to 20%. Blackburn Park, one of Brookhaven’s most popular recreation areas, is home to the annual Cherry Blossom Festival every March.īrookhaven, GA, J- In a recently-completed community input survey of Brookhaven’s Parks and Recreation system, residents not only gave a rousing “thumbs-up” to overall park improvements, but they also awarded high marks for improved personal safety.