Real Friends of Needham Park

03/03/2019

‎Pat Bub Coyne‎ to Real Friends of Needham Park
5 hrs ·
A third murder victim has been discovered in a developed DeKalb county park in less than a year.If DeKalb county thinks they can protect people by hiring 4 unarmed park rangers for over 200 developed DeKalb county Parks then these DeKalb county commissioners ought to be voted out.

It is blatantly obvious that developing our public parks does nothing to protect preserve or enhance the wildlife or the environment but in fact quite the opposite occurs, it draws vagrancy,drugs,prostitution and murderers.The results speak for themselves.Any Development of our natural green space gives the criminals a reason to hang around and be there, it is for this reason
We call on the public to oppose any development of Needham park.

As a five year veteran as a city of Atlanta police officer in SW Atlanta I can attest to the above facts because 30 percent of the calls handled on weekly basis were related to activity in the public park system.

NO DEVELOPEMENT TO NEEDHAM PARK

02/25/2019

‎Pat Bub Coyne‎ to Real Friends of Needham Park
24 mins ·
Just got an interesting invite come down
To parkpride community meeting to find out what plans they have for Needham Park?lol...why would we do that? We don't care about thier plans...

02/25/2019

‎Pat Bub Coyne‎ to Real Friends of Needham Park
12 mins ·
Dear Realfriendsofneedhampark
Once again the public has been invited to
Come to a so called community meeting with PARKPRIDE to find out what developement plans they planned with DeKalb county and thier Stooges friendsofneedham. Not one member of the public has come away from those meetings with any definitive answers of what developement plans they have for Needham park. We call on the community
Around the Park to Boycott any further meetings with Parkpride VB or Thier lackys friendsofneedham.We have made it clear that the community wishes to preserve the park in its current natural state for everyone to enjoy.No development in Needham Park

02/22/2019

Pat Bub Coyne shared a post.
1 hr •
Save Needham park for the wildlife,fish and natural greenspace



Real Friends of Needham Park
January 31 at 9:22 AM •
Neighbors Comments on Save the Park
QUOTE ON NEEDHAM PARK
DAVE BUCKHUT
×
Petition signer's comment
There is a disturbing trend going on with existing public greenspace in DeKalb Co. being reconsidered for private development. What is more disturbing seems a willing Board of Commissioners. (Another is the current proposed swap of public land at Intrenchment Creek to Blackhall Studios in exchange for already clear-cut less-desirable private land.) I drive by Needham off McClendon several times a week. It makes me breath easy to see, however small, a plot of land set aside to nature, undeveloped. Having these spaces is vital to our humanity. There are other post-industrial places on which to build and, or rehabilitate. Please, can we leave the very few remaining natural spaces alone?!
Commented by Dave Buckhout
This is literally my backyard. As a single woman...I do not feel safe with It a concrete jungle. I much enjoy the nature as well.
Commented by Kris Castleberry
Please don’t take our little nature park away. I cherish the moments I sit outside my house at night right next to Needham Park and watch the owls fly over me from tree to tree which has been their home for many years; this will all be taking away if you allow concrete structures and lots of noise. There is two play areas within 5 min walk from Needham park that nobody uses, so why Needham Park?
Commented by Abigail Coyne
We have lost and are losing so many trees in the Atlanta area. Please save these.
Commented by Christine Hamilton
Green trees forever, fresh air and clean water, no rusty swings or rock chip walkways
Commented by Michelle Barnes

02/16/2019

‎Pat Bub Coyne‎ to Real Friends of Needham Park
February 7 at 2:49 PM ·
Dear Realfriendsofneedhampark.Im delighted to report some obvious news
That some of our parkpride stooges refuse to admit lol...
According to the survey that parkpride
And it's Stooges sent out 85 percent of the residents survey indicated they wanted the Needham park greenspace preserved with no development other than the care it currently receives from DeKalb county.
In support of the results of that survey, 150 residents that realfriendsofneedhampark of Needham park surveyed signed a petition indicating that they oppose any development of this Natural Gem.
Furthermore individual's sanctioned by DeKalb county
Destroyed the trees and vegetation
Alongbthe bank of the stream that flows through the stream.We are in the process of notifying the EPA on the use of Herbicide that destroyed both invasive and NON invasive plants along the bank that caused this damage.Furthermore no permit was issued in order to carry out the activity that caused this ecological damage.We should have the list of these vandals shortly.
Its actually revealing and ridiculous that these people that claim they represent the Needham park community just
Don't get it, that we don't want any development.... any other questions?
Comments

02/01/2019

Excerpts from a letter address to Commissioner Steve Bradshaw in June 2018 on why I oppose any development of Needham Park.

There are a number of reasons that we are opposed to any such development of this greenspace, including, but not limited to:
1. Needham Park’s small size. It is small only two acres and a playground or any paving will destroy a large percentage of the greenspace.
2. Needham Park has always been a walk through park with no vehicle access. Keeping cars out of the park has helped maintain its natural beauty.
3. Needham Drive is a small dead-end street with no turn around, and the right-of-way is only thirty feet with a paved width of twelve feet. This is too small to allow two-way vehicular access into and out of the park. Any increase in the pavement and amount of traffic will impact the quality of life for the residents on this small quiet street.
4. Needham Park is a natural, pristine, nature park and should be enjoyed in its natural state. The park would be destroyed beyond any hope of recovery with steel and concrete that is now proposed.
5. The giant oaks in Needham Park are very old.
6. I grew up in this area and these trees were giants when I was a child 70 years ago.
7. We are blessed with a Great Horn Owl family that nests in the giant oaks in Needham Park.
8. There is a pristine waterway that flows through the park and into Peachtree Creek. It would be a tragedy to destroy this ecosystem, and the pristine waterway that flows through the park. The addition of impervious surface would add to the erosion of the stream’s channel.
9. There are two playgrounds in close proximity to Needham Park, Tobie Grant Park, (One thousand feet away) with fourteen acres of playground equipment and McLendon School, a short block north of Needham Park with a large playground and equipment. There is no need and no community demand for another playground.
10. In fact, less than six children live within several blocks of Needham Park.
11. Needham Park is situated with almost no direct line of sight from McLendon Drive or East Ponce de Leon Avenue. Providing paved access to this park creates opportunity for nefarious activities that can be hidden from public view. It is our concern that opening Needham Park up would invite crime into the neighborhood and increase police services.

We would like to bring to everyone’s attention the DeKalb County Mission Statement on Greenspace adopted November 29, 2000 and can be viewed at Joint DeKalb County/Municipal Greenspace Program. I quote from the Greenspace Program, “Greenspace also helps the community at large by lowering crime and reducing the cost of public services such as police protection, and sewer and road maintenance. Not only does our air quality benefit, but treating drinking water also becomes easier and more affordable if we allow the waterways and surrounding ecosystems to naturally cleanse themselves”.

To prevent harm to Needham Park that is anticipated from its development, I have started a petition drive for Needham Park and can be viewed at this website:

We the undersigned and Citizens of DeKalb County DEMAND no Development of Needham Park, But…

01/31/2019

Neighbors Comments on Save the Park
QUOTE ON NEEDHAM PARK

DAVE BUCKHUT

×
Petition signer's comment
There is a disturbing trend going on with existing public greenspace in DeKalb Co. being reconsidered for private development. What is more disturbing seems a willing Board of Commissioners. (Another is the current proposed swap of public land at Intrenchment Creek to Blackhall Studios in exchange for already clear-cut less-desirable private land.) I drive by Needham off McClendon several times a week. It makes me breath easy to see, however small, a plot of land set aside to nature, undeveloped. Having these spaces is vital to our humanity. There are other post-industrial places on which to build and, or rehabilitate. Please, can we leave the very few remaining natural spaces alone?!
Commented by Dave Buckhout

This is literally my backyard. As a single woman...I do not feel safe with It a concrete jungle. I much enjoy the nature as well.
Commented by Kris Castleberry

Please don’t take our little nature park away. I cherish the moments I sit outside my house at night right next to Needham Park and watch the owls fly over me from tree to tree which has been their home for many years; this will all be taking away if you allow concrete structures and lots of noise. There is two play areas within 5 min walk from Needham park that nobody uses, so why Needham Park?
Commented by Abigail Coyne

We have lost and are losing so many trees in the Atlanta area. Please save these.
Commented by Christine Hamilton

Green trees forever, fresh air and clean water, no rusty swings or rock chip walkways
Commented by Michelle Barnes

01/28/2019

‎Pat Bub Coyne‎ to Real Friends of Needham Park
January 24 at 4:04 PM ·
Dear realfriendsofneedhampark
I just met with the Parkpride paidstaff
That I observed walking around Needham park with the DeKalb county Arborist

We have been saying since Day one that the trees will be destroyed with any proposed development.
No members of the general public were invited.
Park pride is nothing short of a DeKalb county stooge organization that coordinates with any group that wants to destroy public green spaces.
Park pride has been systematically having private meetings unknown to the public in order to further thier agenda.
It was revealed during questioning that Commissioner Steve Bradshaw is in fact on Board with this agenda.....
I call on all concerned citizens in DeKalb county to voice thier opposition to any development of Needham park.
This is corruption at the highest level

01/11/2019

Join Pat Coyne and sign up to help save Needham.
Go to GoPetition type in Save Needham Park to join the Georgians that want more Pure air and Green Space and not concrete and steel.

01/08/2019

Patrick Coyne invites you to sign the petition to save Needham Park.

We the undersigned and Citizens of DeKalb County DEMAND no Development of Needham Park, But…

10/16/2018

Legislation to protect Georgia green space roars back to life
By Greg Bluestein - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
0
Georgia conservation groups are getting behind an effort to pass a constitutional amendment that would set aside about $40 million each year to allow the state to buy more state parkland, protect water and wildlife, and improve existing green space. The money would come from an existing state sales tax on outdoor recreation equipment. CONTRIBUTED BY: Georgia Department of Natural Resources
Posted: 6:00 a.m. Friday, January 26, 2018
________________________________________
A coalition of Georgia conservation groups is rallying behind a new effort to pass a constitutional amendment that would set aside about $40 million each year for more parks and green space, armed this year with powerful supporters and a governor who is open to the idea.
The measure, House Bill 332, struggled to gain traction during last year’s legislative session. But conservationists are marshaling forces this year in hopes the plan can land on the November ballot. They released a poll Friday suggesting a broad majority of voters back the idea.
“This is an investment in an economic engine that’s really important to the state of Georgia,” said Robert Ramsay, the head of the Georgia Conservancy. “And we have that opportunity because Georgia’s been so blessed with natural resources.”
The legislation would dedicate 75 percent of the existing state sales tax on outdoor recreation equipment to a conservation fund to buy new parkland, protect water and wildlife, and improve existing green space.
The fund would be overseen by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and financed from existing taxes for equipment purchased for camping, hunting, fishing and other outdoor sports. The annual amount would be calculated by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and it would not include any tax dollars from sales of boats, motor homes and four-wheelers.
It would need two-thirds support in each house of the Legislature and approval by a majority of voters to get baked into Georgia’s law. Supporters are seeking this step because it’s the only way to dedicate specific annual funding for green space — and because the steady stream gives conservation groups and governments more predictability each year.