Brookhaven blends the shades of work and play
Brookhaven, GA, Nov. 18, 2019 -- From concerts in one of its many parks to movies under the stars, food truck delicacies to youth activities, Brookhaven residents can find plenty of ways to relax, thanks to a steady stream of public entertainment offerings available year-round. The abundance of activities all correlate with the City’s ongoing efforts to model itself as an ideal live, work and play community likely to attract residents from across the spectrum including professionals, young families and retirees.
As Brookhaven nears the seventh anniversary of its inception, there are a multitude of reasons why DeKalb County’s largest city is steadily attracting new businesses and residents. Recently voted Atlanta’s #1 suburb by the Atlanta Journal Constitution, its greatest assets are its creative residents, businesses and organizations working together to make sure there is always something to do to not only engage established residents and business, but to encourage continued growth. Although the City manages many of the year-round activities, it also partners with civic groups to stage events such as the Brookhaven Arts Festival and Brookhaven Bolt 5k race.
“A truly livable community is designed for all ages and not only supports but appeals to the youngest children to the oldest adults,” said City Manager Christian Sigman. “This proves to be true overall when looking at established live, work and play criteria. For example, well-maintained sidewalks and safe crosswalks help older people with limited mobility as well as parents pushing strollers. Transportation options help residents who may no longer drive get to the grocery store and students get to class. Affordable housing helps retirees remain in homes they can afford and young professionals to live near their jobs.”
Since the myriad of City events are peppered throughout the year, residents may not realize all of the many activities available to them. When looking at the events schedule collectively, it’s striking how many opportunities are offered for people to meet and spend time together. (See attached sidebar.)
While some cities only have one area to serve as a local gathering spot, many of Brookhaven’s 16 public parks and green spaces often host the lion’s share of public events. Crowds at the Cherry Blossom Festival each spring have grown to 40,000 strong and the annual Light Up Brookhaven draws hundreds of youngsters and their parents out to usher in the holidays. Both events are held at Blackburn Park.
Brookhaven is also home to Briarwood Park, an 18-acre park that includes a recreation center with a gym, basketball court and meeting room, a playground, tennis courts, picnic tables and walking trails. Coming in 2020, there will be a new swimming pool with splash pad. The 135-acre Murphy Candler Park, the largest park in DeKalb County, offers multi-use athletic fields, a swimming pool, playground and picnic areas, and a lake for fishing (the lake is stocked with largemouth bass, bluegill, and channel catfish, among others).
Visitors to Brookhaven’s historic Lynwood Park can find a swimming pool, recreation center and newly-redesigned basketball court, compliments of the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Insurance. An $11 million renovation will provide additional new upgrades for visitors to enjoy in 2020.
In addition to special events, the City’s parks are home to year-round activities including summer youth sports camps, baseball and softball athletic leagues, youth and adult athletic leagues, kickball, youth soccer, tennis, swimming, basketball leagues, and pet education classes. Other ongoing activities include gymnastics, cheerleading, Zumba classes, fitness classes, senior programs and social club, art classes, dance classes, computer technology courses, and volunteer opportunities. Included in the mix are Eagle Scout projects, parks/wildlife conservation, Lego workshops, swimming, creative movement and dance, martial arts, recreational cornhole leagues, and performance arts dance classes.
“With the funds approved by voters in the Parks Bond Referendum, we will be making Master Plan improvements to many of our parks that will allow us to provide improved and/or additional events for residents moving forward,” noted Brian Borden, Brookhaven Parks and Recreation Director. “This reflects how these monies are paid forward in terms of additional activities that can be become a reality and provide opportunities for people to meet and spend time together now and into the future.”
Day-to-day options abound for Brookhaven residents as well. On any given day, residents have a wide variety of chef-driven, locally owned restaurants at their disposal. Local restaurants offer a variety of tastes to please any palate from upscale Italian or new American cuisine on Dresden Drive to quick and easy casual meals in Town Brookhaven. Or they may opt to travel the world with eclectic international food fare along Buford Highway. Thanks to Oglethorpe University, a rich cultural gumbo is available too with its playbill of lectures, drama presentations, musicals and renowned art exhibits.
“The residual effect of all of this social interaction available to Brookhaven residents can have a lasting effect because it often spurs innovation through shared ides,” noted Mayor John Ernst. “Shared experiences available through local activities and events encourage the development of social capital which is a feeling of being connected to the community.”
Looking for something fun to do?
Brookhaven provides activities year-round that provide fun for all ages. Here are a few examples:
Spring
Brookhaven Cherry Blossom Festival
Easter Egg Scramble
Eggstraordinary Easter Egg Hunt (for challenged children)
Dog Gone Easter Egg Hunt
Lynwood Park Community Day
Community Yard Sale
Summer
Memorial Day Pool Party
Weekly Food Truck Roundups begin (until Oct.)
Bark in the Park
Movies in the Moonlight
Touch a Truck
Doggy Dip Day
National Night Out
City Hall Selfie Day
Brookhaven Beer Fest
Fall
Light Up Brookhaven
Hot pursuit Glow Run 5K
Paint the Park
Family dance
Indoor Movie Night
Brookhaven Arts Festival
Atlanta Chili Cookoff
Winter
MLK Dinner/Celebration
Daddy/Daughter Valentine Dance
Brookhaven Arbor Day Tree Planting
Miscellaneous
Pizza (or Coffee, etc.) or with a Cop
Coffee with a Councilperson
Murphey Candler Park Conservancy Earth Day Spring Social
Oglethorpe University (revolving exhibits, theatre productions)
Mayor or Council Town Halls
Assorted ribbon cuttings, groundbreaking ceremonies
Phase 1 of Peachtree Creek Parkway
Community Gardens
Operation Letters to Santa
