County Debuts Mary Scott Park Renovations

If you're driving along Briarcliff Road in search of a pleasant stroll, it probably wouldn't be a bad idea to stop by Mary Scott Park.

DeKalb County debuted nearly $250,000 worth of improvements to the wooded park at 4150 Briarcliff Rd. on Saturday to a group of residents and volunteers who helped the renovation efforts.

The park now has a 5-foot, permeable trail that winds through the its densely wooded 10 acres. It's been ornamented with public gathering areas, benches, a bike rack, a drinking fountain, play areas, picnic tables and bridges.

"Our parks need friends," District 2 County Commissioner Jeff Rader said. "They need people who roll up their sleeves a few times a year."

The county purchased the acreage from a local family around 2002, said Marvin Billups, deputy director of the DeKalb County Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs. The renovations were paid for through a $125 million bond issuance approved by voters in 2001, he said, and 70 percent of that money was set aside to purchase land. 

The renovations began last year, Billups said. The park was designed by Roy Ashley & Associates, and the work was contracted to Ed Castro Landscape.

"The goal was to keep it as low-impact development as we could," Billups said. "We still got a lot to do."

The park debut included a ribbon cutting, a silent auction and a tour of the park.