Best things that have happened to the park in 2014, #10. I saved the best for last. 10. Neighbor power. Last, but most importantly, 2014 was the year of neighbor power, from fundraising to thousands of hours of volunteering to education outreach about birds, plants, science, and rain gardens. This year, FOTS raised $25,800 from around 75 small donations by neighbors to their park—an average donation of $344. That’s about $10,000 more than the $16,000 the city spends all year on park maintenance. Among other things, those donations paid for every new bench installed outside of the tennis center and just about every tree that we’ll be planting in the park this January through February—a huge investment in our park, our city, and our children’s future. That these gifts came from neighbors, many of whom have donated volunteer time in the park as well, makes them all the more special. Add to that grassroots giving the gift of $100,000 to FOTS for the gateway promenade, and add to that the Knight Neighborhood Challenge grants for the Northwest Gateway, the rain garden, the sidewalk chalk festival, the fantastic Little Libraries, and the Mulberry Market, and we’ve seen one of the most successful giving campaigns for any public park in the state of Georgia this year. And what’s exciting is that each gift—whether in the form of volunteering or funding or donating books to the Little Library—has shown all of Macon the power of giving, not only for Tattnall Square, but for all of Macon’s parks. To see other park groups forming, like the Coleman Hill Revival, Friends of Washington Park, Friends of Rosa Jackson, the Triple Triangle Park friends, and to see Macon-Bibb’s city government begin to seek out these groups for partnership, marks the birth of an urban park renewal in this city. Thanks to you, this has been a very good year for all of Macon’s parks. Thanks for your kind words, your generous gifts, your hard work, and your creativity--lets make 2015 another great year for Tattnall, the College Hill Corridor, and Macon-Bibb!
Posted on: Thu, 01 Jan 2015 01:33:53 +0000
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