Plans for new Perimeter Park (Dunwoody: 2014, neighborhood, restaurant)

[cqholt]

PCID released plans for the proposed Perimeter Park at Dunwoody Station
Group unveils Perimeter Park plans - Reporter Newspapers
Looks good and PCID is trying to improve walkability to the mall.

[ElleKaye]

Both master plans look good to me, but I would have expected more differences between the two.

Master Plan 1 does not have the terraced seating and steps at the North Plaza. Master Plan 2 does not have the retaining wall with decorating railing or the information kiosk at the South Plaza.

I would prefer Master Plan 2's seating to Master Plan 1's retaining wall, but Master Plan 1's kiosk trumps that. (This is speaking as someone who does not mind a good adventure lol, but sometimes you just need info. about what is where more than anything else.) If they could replace the retaining wall with the seating, I'd think Master Plan 1 without question.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by ElleKaye

Both master plans look good to me, but I would have expected more differences between the two.

Master Plan 1 does not have the terraced seating and steps at the North Plaza. Master Plan 2 does not have the retaining wall with decorating railing or the information kiosk at the South Plaza.

I would prefer Master Plan 2's seating to Master Plan 1's retaining wall, but Master Plan 1's kiosk trumps that. (This is speaking as someone who does not mind a good adventure lol, but sometimes you just need info. about what is where more than anything else.) If they could replace the retaining wall with the seating, I'd think Master Plan 1 without question.

Why does the park need a kiosk? We have smart phones now.

[aries4118]

Great idea, great plans.

Now--shouldn't we use this model for building new parks beneath MARTA tracks throughout the metro area?

[ElleKaye]

Originally Posted by cqholt

Why does the park need a kiosk? We have smart phones now.

Everyone does not have a smart phone and you're not exactly driving through the thing, but walking on foot, correct? The only time my iPhone has helped me in a park was a combo of apps (wahoo, endomondo, fitbit, etc.) that tracked a bunch of metrics about where I'd been but didn't give me any direction about where to go.

Let's say for some reason I decided to catch the train to Perimeter Mall and thought hey, this looks cool; let me check out this park. For all I know, it could be in a cellular dead spot for my carrier and sometimes the info leaves much to be desired when it comes to readibility, usability, and accuracy. Before I venture too far into it, I'd like to have some plan in place for how I will get back to the train on time based on what works for my schedule.

I mean I could look up a menu for almost any restaurant that I visit on my phone, but that doesn't mean I don't expect to see a menu when I arrive.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by ElleKaye

Everyone does not have a smart phone and you're not exactly driving through the thing, but walking on foot, correct? The only time my iPhone has helped me in a park was a combo of apps (wahoo, endomondo, fitbit, etc.) that tracked a bunch of metrics about where I'd been but didn't give me any direction about where to go.

Let's say for some reason I decided to catch the train to Perimeter Mall and thought hey, this looks cool; let me check out this park. For all I know, it could be in a cellular dead spot for my carrier and sometimes the info leaves much to be desired when it comes to readibility, usability, and accuracy. Before I venture too far into it, I'd like to have some plan in place for how I will get back to the train on time based on what works for my schedule.

I mean I could look up a menu for almost any restaurant that I visit on my phone, but that doesn't mean I don't expect to see a menu when I arrive.

I could see if it was a large park where you could not see across it, but its not even an acre.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by cqholt

I could see if it was a large park where you could not see across it, but its not even an acre.

I would be in favor of the information kiosk.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by arjay57

I would be in favor of the information kiosk.

And elbow room.

[erick295]

Originally Posted by cqholt

I could see if it was a large park where you could not see across it, but its not even an acre.

It's 5 acres, but in any case I'm sure that kiosk would provide info about the whole neighborhood, not just the park. Remember this is next to a transit station, so it's an entry point for visitors.

[ATLTJL]

I love the idea of the park!

But I do wonder how it increases walkability to the mall. It looks to me like all of the park is as far away from the mall as the MARTA station itself.

What would be really cool is if they could build some sort of grade separated bridge that gives pedestrians access to the mall without traversing a parking lot.

I'm sure they will put some kind of sidewalk or something in, though, and that's better than nothing. This is how you do walkability in the suburbs!