Brookhaven City Council approves Lavista Park master plan

Despite a petition against the construction of a second playground being submitted to the city, the Lavista Park master plan has been approved by the Brookhaven City Council to address flooding, trails, and lighting.

The petition, organized by Lane Kranz and Stan Healthy, represents a collective effort to stop a second playground installation in Lavista Park, a heavily wooded pocket park on Wild Creek Trail with an aging play structure, walking trail, and picnic tables.

Signed by 54 residents whose property is adjacent to the park, the petition claims a second playground will disrupt the natural ecology of the park, introduce unnecessary noise, and fail to address the community’s needs. The neighborhood consists of about 600 homes.

“A small percentage of Lavista Park residents have children in the 6-10 age range, making the proposed second playground an imprudent allocation of resources,” the petition states. “The existing playground is underutilized, further calling into question the necessity of a second installation.”

Brookhaven City Council funded a $56,000 contract with Cooper Carry in June 2024 to develop the plan.

Tom Woodward, retired architect and planner, spoke in favor of an additional playground at the July 22 Brookhaven City Council meeting.

“I want our neighborhood to be welcoming to all families. Because I live directly across from the playground, I remember when there was no equipment over there for children,” said Woodward. “In the time that I’ve lived there, I’ve enjoyed sounds of children at play and to want to value their safety.”

Lavista Park Civic Association President Bill Dynan said the master plan will enhance the remnant of an old growth forest, preserving the tree canopy and managing flooding.

“I believe parks should be for everybody, and I think this will be a park with something to offer everyone,” said Dynan, who visits the park daily.

District 4 council member John Funny said the master plan went through extensive community engagement with three public meetings, a pop-up at the community’s fall festival, a final master plan presentation, and four additional community conversations focusing on the second playground.

Funny said petition signers were mistakenly led to believe that trees were being removed to put in the second playground.

“I’ll be very clear, we’re not removing 25 or 30 trees to install the playground,” Funny said. “We don’t cut trees down to build playgrounds [in Brookhaven].”

City council members approved the Lavista Park master plan unanimously.

In other news, Brookhaven City Council approved:

• A $1.78 million contract with Michael Baker International for the design and permitting of a pedestrian bridge over I-85.
• A $69,528 agreement with Heath & Lineback for additional services on the Peachtree Creek Greenway Phase II design.
• A $158,000 contract with Federal EC for the Shady Valley-Victor Road storm sewer project.

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