Historic Pleasant Hill Neighborhood seeking public input on park’s new name

The Historic Pleasant Hill Neighborhood is seeking public input for the new name of the park which stretches from 1stAvenue behind the Booker T. Washington Center to 5thAvenue Northwest. It's been called Linear Park since it was created several years ago by the Georgia Department of Transportation.

"Renaming the park is an important task because it helps increase communal ownership, leading to improved public health and safety in the area. We really want to make the park more family friendly, safe, and accessible for all," says Community Planner, Tonja Khabir.

The deadline to submit a name is November 1, and it will be selected near the completion of the park renovations. Suggestions can be made through an online survey by clicking here.

The park has already been used for community activities like Festivals in the Hills and vendor fairs. Now, it is set to undergo a major renovation project following a neighborhood-led design process that could add new trees, more seating, activity areas, and more. The improvements to the park are part of a state-funded effort from the Improving Neighborhood Outcomes in Disproportionately Impacted Communities. This national effort funds investments in neighborhood features (including parks, recreation facilities, sidewalks, and healthy food access) which work to improve physical and mental health outcomes.

We began this process with rich community engagement with more than 125 residents sharing their ideas for how they would like to use the park. With five sessions of community feedback with Interface Studio at both the park and the Booker T. Washington Community Center, the group was able to draft a design that encompassed:

• Improved sidewalk design;
• Addition of shade structures and pavilion;
• Improved basketball court at Booker T. Washington Center;
• Irrigation system to support trees and plants; and
• Active play areas and a bike activity for children

Following the improvements and renaming, the neighborhood is hoping to activate it even further. By adding more shading, opportunities to play, and active sites like pavilions and staging, it can make the park both more a safe and desirable place to be. Parks provide safe spaces for the physical and mental health of all people by increasing social interaction, enhancing public safety, and boosting environmental health by improving air quality and mitigating urban heat.

The goal of the project in Macon-Bibb County is to develop a framework for the commercial and job creation strategy for Walnut Street, including engagement of residents and property owners to define anti-displacement strategies, further define housing strategies, and more. According to Khabir, this work will help supplement other projects in Pleasant Hill.

This project to improve Linear Park is a direct result of the Pleasant Hill Strategic Plan; a resident-driven plan which has engaged over 400 residents and community members to identify several strategic priorities for neighborhood improvement, including enhancing neighborhood infrastructure, increasing commercial opportunities, and preserving the history and culture of the area.

This strategic plan is also connected to broader initiatives to enhance government collaboration and accountability through:

1. Reimagining the Civic Commons: A coalition and effort to improve traffic and pedestrian safety on Walnut Street.
2. Smart Growth America Community Connectors program: A national grant to support capacity building and technical assistance for the Pleasant Hill Neighborhood Organization.
3. Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Grant: A federal grant from the Inflation Reduction Act's Neighborhood Access and Equity (NAE) Program to support an Urban Design Plan to reconnect Pleasant Hill improving access to mobility and economic opportunity.

"With a new name chosen by the people, combined with the resources and organizations at the Booker T. Washington Center, and physical improvements to the park itself, we will create a community-centric park that will help us continue reconnecting our historic neighborhood," says Khabir. "We hope to increase how residents use this space and really look forward to seeing it as part of a larger effort to increase walkability, public health, and safety throughout the entire neighborhood."

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