Woodruff Park (Atlanta, Decatur: landscaping, maintenance, fencing)

[bernsee]

Does anyone know what's been going on with Woodruff Park? It has been fenced off for months. The city claims they needed to shut it down for landscaping and cleanup because Occupy Atlanta caused so much destruction to it. Since it has been fenced off, I have not seen one city worker working to clean up the park. Honestly, I never saw any real damage in the first place.

I think the city just closed the park as an excuse to keep Occupy Atlanta away from downtown. I don't know how long they can keep it closed. I would think it would be illegal to just keep a park closed indefinitely like that. It's really too bad because fencing off the park like the city has done saps the life out of downtown. Woodruff Park is a central gathering point and is virtually the only sign of life downtown.

Fencing it off must look awful to locals, to tourists, and further enhances Atlanta's image as a city that doesn't know what the hell it's doing. Open the damn park please.

[MathmanMathman]

I don't know what they should do with Woodruff Park. It seems to be in a constant state of rehabilitation. It doesn't function as originally intended. Centennial Park does that. Woodruff Park is an undesirable place for most of the public. It probably can't be done legally, but I'd turn it and Hurt Park over to Georgia State U.

[ATLTJL]

Where are all the homeless people playing cards now?

[UrbanConquistador]

Originally Posted by ATLTJL

Where are all the homeless people playing cards now?

Haha good question...

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by ATLTJL

Where are all the homeless people playing cards now?

Moreover, where are they relieving themselves?

[JPD]

Originally Posted by LovinDecatur

Moreover, where are they relieving themselves?

There's a restroom at Woodruff Park which is still accessible. Only the grass portion of the park is fenced off.

[JPD]

Originally Posted by bernsee

Does anyone know what's been going on with Woodruff Park? It has been fenced off for months. The city claims they needed to shut it down for landscaping and cleanup because Occupy Atlanta caused so much destruction to it. Since it has been fenced off, I have not seen one city worker working to clean up the park. Honestly, I never saw any real damage in the first place.

I think the city just closed the park as an excuse to keep Occupy Atlanta away from downtown. I don't know how long they can keep it closed. I would think it would be illegal to just keep a park closed indefinitely like that. It's really too bad because fencing off the park like the city has done saps the life out of downtown. Woodruff Park is a central gathering point and is virtually the only sign of life downtown.

Fencing it off must look awful to locals, to tourists, and further enhances Atlanta's image as a city that doesn't know what the hell it's doing. Open the damn park please.

The claim that Occupy destroyed the lawn is a lie, plain and simple. I walk past (or through) Woodruff Park every single day. I know what the lawn looked like before, during and immediately after Occupy. There was very little difference in the quality and health of the grass before and after Occupy was there. There were a few patches of dead or damaged grass where some tents had been set up for long periods of time. Those small areas needed some care. But there certainly was not anywhere near enough damage to warrant re-sodding the entire park.

Now, having said all that, the new sod looks amazing. I agree they need to open it back up so it can be enjoyed by those of us who are paying for it.

[BroadStJudge]

Originally Posted by JPD

Only the grass portion of the park is fenced off.

Exactly. The reading room area, the chess area, the restrooms, and the north end of the park are still open.

Occupy Atlanta not only trampled the grass but they short-circuited the outlets in the park as well as destroying the sprinkler system which had to be replaced. The "claims" are true.

The fences were to come down June 1 but May 31st Occupy Atlanta came into the park at 10:30 pm and tried to start a fire. So the fence will stay a little longer until the area can be secured better and the playground gets installed this month. Winning Design Chosen for Woodruff Park Playground | Downtown Atlanta

As for GSU, they are already responsible for the maintenance of Hurt Park - disaster. And they were responsible for the maintenance of Woodruff Park years ago when it was full of bums sleeping on the grass. They gave up and turned the responsibility over to CAP and that is when the improvements started.

[JPD]

Originally Posted by BroadStJudge

Exactly. The reading room area, the chess area, the restrooms, and the north end of the park are still open.

Occupy Atlanta not only trampled the grass but they short-circuited the outlets in the park as well as destroying the sprinkler system which had to be replaced. The "claims" are true.

The fences were to come down June 1 but May 31st Occupy Atlanta came into the park at 10:30 pm and tried to start a fire. So the fence will stay a little longer until the area can be secured better

Sorry, but I need credible links to support these claims.

[cqholt]

Woodruff Park is an undesirable place for most of the public

Why is it filled with downtown business people and students at lunch time. The reading room is constantly filled with people.