UGA College of Environment and Design Leads Charrette for Harrison Park in Ellijay, GA

On January 27, 2017, a team of students and faculty from the University of Georgia’s College of Environment and Design will partner with the Harrison Park Board of Directors to create a master plan designed to maximize the park’s potential to be a first-class in-town amenity for residents and visitors alike.

Professor Pratt Cassity of the College’s Center for Community Design & Preservation will lead the student team and resident and community participants in an intensive, three-day public design session, or ‘charrette’, to create a plan for the park. The charrette will focus on site design by incorporating existing trails, taking advantage of frontage along the Ellijay River, and propose designs and locations for requested amenities such as restrooms and a bandstand, as well as the preservation of the historic barn.

A survey about the park’s future has been circulating in order to collect input from a broad array of local residents, business owners, and visitors. Several hundred responses have been received and will be provided to the UGA team to help inform the park’s design.

“The goal of the design charrette,” says Cassity, “is to involve Ellijay’s current and potential park users in the design from the beginning, and to create a plan that will meet the needs of its residents and visitors.”

“The Harrison Park Board is committed to creating a vibrant and sustainable park that highlights Ellijay’s incredible natural resources,” says Kim Humphreys, chairman of the Harrison Park Board of Directors. “We’re looking forward to leveraging the expertise of the Center for Community Design & Preservation to develop a comprehensive master plan, and we hope citizens throughout our community will join us for one or more of the public input sessions to ensure their ideas are heard.”

The three-day charrette includes the following events that the public is encouraged to attend:

Friday, January 27th, 10:30a-11:30am at Harrison Hall, 180 Dalton Street, Ellijay, GA 30540

Introduction of Charrette Process, Public Input Session.

Saturday, January 28th, 3:00-4:30pm at Harrison Hall – Mid-point pin-up of ideas for public feedback.

Sunday, January 29th, @:00-3:30pm at Harrison Hall – Final presentation of the charrette and Q & A with the public and stakeholder groups.

The recommendations and plans developed during the charrette will be taken into consideration by the Harrison Park Board of Directors and the City of Ellijay.

For further information, please contact: Jennifer Lewis, Outreach Coordinator, UGA College of Environment and Design, jmlewis@uga.edu or 706-369-5885

About UGA’s Center for Community Design & Preservation

The Center for Community Design & Preservation (CCDP) serves as the Public Service and Outreach office for the College of Environment & Design. We provide opportunities for our faculty and students to engage in real-world projects and put their academic pursuits into practice. The CCDP delivers conceptual community design services by utilizing a mix of faculty, professional staff and students, which helps leverage professional assistance to implement projects. As recipient communities receive high quality design services they could not otherwise afford, students receive the practical hands-on experience that makes them more marketable as graduates. For more information, visit: www.ced.uga.edu/pso