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Cobb must act swiftly to preserve its green space

5/11/2017

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Letter to the Editor from the Marietta Daily Journal: 
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Cobb must act swiftly to preserve its green space

May 11, 2017​

DEAR EDITOR:
We applaud the Board of Commissioners for issuing $27.6 million of Park Bond 2008. We look forward to the additional $12.4 million during Chairman Mike Boyce’s term in office.

Undeveloped land for green space is disappearing at an alarming rate. There are many ways to preserve land in addition to an outright purchase. Land trusts can provide temporary funding to hold the land until the county purchases it, conservation easements prevent land from being developed in perpetuity and the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority provides extremely low-cost loans, saving the County millions of dollars in interest.

Milton and Johns Creek approved referenda totaling $65 million for land conservation and green space in November 2016. These measures were supported by The Georgia Conservancy, The Trust for Public Land, Land Trust Alliance and The Nature Conservancy in Georgia.

February 2017, Brookhaven was awarded a $5.7 million loan by GEFA to finance purchasing 33 acres of forested land adjacent to the DeKalb-Peachtree Airport. This acquisition preserves one of the largest remaining tracts of urban forest in metro Atlanta, and protects the Peachtree Creek watershed.

The city will pay 0.89 percent interest on the 20-year loan. Yes — less than 1 percent interest, saving Brookhaven millions of dollars that can be used to purchase more green space.

What is Cobb County doing to take advantage of creative financing to purchase and preserve green space?

Cynthia Patterson
Marietta
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A park should be within a 10-minute walk for everyone

5/1/2017

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Letter to the Editor from the Marietta Daily Journal:  A park should be within a 10-minute walk for everyone

May 1, 2017

DEAR EDITOR:

Napoleon III came up with a plan to rebuild Paris. He was responsible for the great boulevards and the building and rebuilding of museums such as the Louvre, opera house, clean water and sanitation. But what really impressed me was his devotion to developing great, beautiful parks. He had an edict of a maximum 10-minute walk by any resident to the nearest park.

I have been advocating for this goal thinking that it was established by an enlightened community such as Minneapolis-Saint Paul. But this goal was established a bit earlier than I thought. It was in 1850. This should also be a goal for Cobb County.

We should also establish a goal of having all parks connected by trails. To fulfill the10-minute walk goal, it’s my thought that neighborhood parks of two to 10 acres should be given priority for purchase (as opposed to 100 acre-plus parks).

Because of overbuilding in east Cobb it will probably be difficult to construct the trails that join the parks or even the required number and location of the parks. Some creative thought may be required to do so. I would much rather have a neighborhood park within 10 minutes walking distance from anywhere in Cobb than the Braves Stadium.

Napoleon III wanted these parks so that Parisians could reduce their stress level by walking to, and relaxing in, a beautiful park. We should be provided with the same. Also, parks close to home provide a sense of community and an appreciation thereof.

If you agree, please contact your district commissioner and let him/her know. Also, please let me know of any of your suggestions or recommendations for improvement of Cobb parks and green space or any other item. Let me know by providing an online comment below.

Robert Roth
Marietta
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