Anyone know if Music Midtown damaged Piedmont Park? (Atlanta, Millen: food, parking)

[ATLTJL]

To maintain and build out and operate and maintain the park.

The city doesn't even operate the park?

In this case, wouldn't it make more sense for the conservancy to raise enough funds to actually buy the park and then turn it into a private park, if they are maintaining it, building it, and operating it already anyway?

I mean, how frustrating is that if the conservancy does everything to take care of the park, but the city gets to make every decision affecting it?

So either:

1) The conservancy is getting a rotten deal and the city of Atlanta is the worst government ever at taking care of its flagship park
2) It's being vastly overstated on this board what the conservancy does

I honestly don't know which one it is.

[JPD]

Originally Posted by AnsleyPark

To maintain and build out and operate and maintain the park.

You guys need to recognize how much clout you have and stop letting the city walk all over the park. You have the power to create a massive PR headache for the city. Figure out how to harness that in a way that prevents the types of one-sided contracts (entirely in favor of moneyed interests every single time) that leave the conservancy to pick up the pieces.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by JPD

But it's so much easier to find a video of a few people peeing on a bush and blame them for everything than it is to deal with the city.

I realize there will always be some who feel like it's okay to do anything as long as it's in somebody else's yard.

Of course that wasn't the only thing going on at Music Midtown. It's hard for me to see how this is respectful of the park.


Mudsliding at Music midtown ATL Sept 21 2013 - YouTube

[JPD]

Originally Posted by arjay57

No need to get so uptight about the public urination video. I realize there will always be some who feel like it's okay to do anything as long as it's in somebody else's yard.

Of course that wasn't the only thing going on at Music Midtown. It's hard for me to see how this is respectful of the park.


Mudsliding at Music midtown ATL Sept 21 2013 - YouTube

Not uptight in the least. Stop projecting.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by ATLTJL

The city doesn't even operate the park?

In this case, wouldn't it make more sense for the conservancy to raise enough funds to actually buy the park and then turn it into a private park, if they are maintaining it, building it, and operating it already anyway?

I mean, how frustrating is that if the conservancy does everything to take care of the park, but the city gets to make every decision affecting it?

So either:

1) The conservancy is getting a rotten deal and the city of Atlanta is the worst government ever at taking care of its flagship park
2) It's being vastly overstated on this board what the conservancy does

I honestly don't know which one it is.

ATLTJL, the city acquired the land over a hundred years ago. However, city government doesn't have (or at least chooses not to spend) significant money on the park. That's why it had fallen into disrepair.

The conservancy was formed by a group of concerned citizens to rehabilitate the park, build out the many new amenities and create a truly world class facility. It provides 90% of the park's funding. Since 1989 the Conservancy has invested more than $65 million in the park.

Bear in mind that the entire amount allocated by the city for parks is $12 million. That's for all parks, not just Piedmont.

So the city has offloaded the cost of park maintenance and development to private citizens. Yes, you could say park supporters are dumb for accepting this situation, but these are people who care deeply about the city and are willing to dig into their personal resources to give the city something special.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by JPD

Not uptight in the least. Stop projecting.

Sorry, JPD, my mistake. I removed the comment in question.

[JPD]

Originally Posted by arjay57

Sorry, JPD, my mistake. I removed the comment in question.

Apology accepted.

[AnsleyPark]

Originally Posted by ATLTJL

The city doesn't even operate the park?

In this case, wouldn't it make more sense for the conservancy to raise enough funds to actually buy the park and then turn it into a private park, if they are maintaining it, building it, and operating it already anyway?

I mean, how frustrating is that if the conservancy does everything to take care of the park, but the city gets to make every decision affecting it?

So either:

1) The conservancy is getting a rotten deal and the city of Atlanta is the worst government ever at taking care of its flagship park
2) It's being vastly overstated on this board what the conservancy does

I honestly don't know which one it is.

From very direct first-hand experience, it's number 1. But, in fact, it's the citizens of Atlanta who are getting a rotten deal from the city but a great benefit from Conservancy benefactors. On this board, it's been vastly understated what the conservancy does.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by AnsleyPark

But, in fact, it's the citizens of Atlanta who are getting a rotten deal from the city but a great benefit from Conservancy benefactors. On this board, it's been vastly understated what the conservancy does.

People who enjoy Piedmont Park would be dismayed if its management was left to the city of Atlanta. Without the extraordinary, generous and voluntary support of the Conservancy the park would be a shadow of what it is today.

[Gulch]

Originally Posted by arjay57

People who enjoy Piedmont Park would be dismayed if its management was left to the city of Atlanta. Without the extraordinary, generous and voluntary support of the Conservancy the park would be a shadow of what it is today.

This.