BEAUTIFYING HISTORIC GRANT PARK: A LABOR OF LOVE

Landscape design professionals David Dempsey of Viridis Garden Design, Rick Jones of Jones/Ellas Design and David Judd of Hughes, Good, O'Leary and Ryan have donated hundreds of hours to a major facelift of Atlanta's Grant Park. They will be joined by 500 more volunteers for a major plant installation on November 8, 2003. The Olmsted Brothers of Brookline Massachusetts supplied the l903 plan that is serving as their guide.

ATLANTA, GA (PRWEB) October 28, 2003.        David Dempsey, a principal in Viridis Garden Design, Inc. has lived in the Grant Park neighborhood for more than 8 years. He is currently involved in a major renovation and historically accurate enlargement of his bungalow. Dempsey loves his home, he loves his neighborhood and he loves the park itself, one of Atlantas historic treasures. Dempsey and several other experts who live in the Grant Park neighborhood including Rick Jones of Jones/Ellas Design and David Judd of Hughes, Good, OLeary and Ryan, are manifesting that love. All have donated hundreds of hours to a major restoration and revitalization of historic Grant Park.

On November 8, 2003 from 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Dempsey, Jones and Judd will be joined by more than 500 volunteers from throughout metro Atlanta as they begin the installation of 600 trees, 2,800 shrubs and over 3,000 perennial plantings around the newly enhanced hardscapes which have been installed at the Boulevard Parking Lot entrance which is a major gateway to the Zoo and Cyclorama Attracting visitors from throughout the world, these two major Atlanta tourist attractions make Grant Park one of the most heavily visited parks in the city.

   As a professional landscape designer, Dempsey saw plenty of room for improvement in his neighborhood park. The condition of Grant Park was an embarrassment. Years of neglect and over use made for a very poor visitor experience. I was happy to join with Rick Jones, David Judd and other design professionals to come up with a mix of improvements that will restore Grant Park to the showplace status it once enjoyed. This is a very long project; we expect the masterplan to be completed over a 20-year period. Were taking it one step at a time. "
   Working under the auspices of The Grant Park Conservancy, Dempsey and the other professionals went back to the original 1903 plan created for the park by The Olmsted Brothers of Brookline, Massachusetts. They selected native plants from the original Olmsted approved plant list for inclusion in the upcoming installation.
The major planting project on November 8 will enhance new paver stones and pillars, which are already in place and a retention pond installed by the City under the Parks Improvement Program.

"Rick Jones was key in the design of the grand, new, cobbled paver walkway and granite architectural features. The pillars are replicated from the l927 Overlook at Cherokee and Ormond Avenues which were originally designed by the Atlanta Architectural Firm of Edwards and Sayward," said Phil Cuthbertson, Director of the Grant Park Conservancy.
It is gratifying to have pro bono assistance from professionals of the caliber of David Dempsey, Rick Jones and David Judd. They have given unselfishly of their time and it shows. This project really showcases their talents. We also have support from Rich's/Macy's Partners in Time, The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, Trees Atlanta, The City of Atlanta Department of Parks Recreation and Cultural Affairs, Site Engineering, The Atlanta Community Tool Bank, HKN Georgia Tech Service Project and Park Pride. We are recruiting volunteers from all over metro Atlanta. Grant Park was once the crown jewel of city parks. We want everyone to join in its revival. Its a matter of civic pride," said Cuthbertson.

   The landscape installation will be starting at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 8.

In case of inclement weather, a rain day has been set for December 6, 2003.

Volunteers are still needed. To get involved contact the Grant Park Conservancy Office
at 404-521-0938

The Grant Park Conservancy, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization is working to restore, renovate, beautify and maintain Grant Park, the home of Zoo Atlanta and The Atlanta Cyclorama.

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