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June 2012

SPLOST Projects Underway

On March 15, 2011, a referendum on a four-year SPLOST (Special Local Option Sales Tax) was approved by voters. This program will be in effect from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2015. From this SPLOST, Cobb County Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs will be utilizing $82,023,000 for revitalization, facility renovations and upgrades to parks and facilities. Planning, coordinating and scheduling projects are in their early stages, but you will now be able to see some of the work in progress or soon to begin. Here is a list of current projects:

• The construction of the accessible sidewalk and set of steps at East Cobb Park, between the upper parking lot and the lower portion of the park has started. All concrete work for the steps and sidewalks is complete. The remaining work to be completed is hand rails and landscaping. The handrails are scheduled to be installed and the landscaping will follow shortly thereafter.
• The replacement of an oil switch along with new contactors, wiring and fixtures is complete on field #3 at Perry Parham Park.
• At Jennie T. Anderson Theatre, the replacement of some of the rigging equipment for the fly system is scheduled to start in late August and be completed in mid September.
• Two new scorers' stands have been constructed at Nickajack Park.
• Three sets of double doors and associated hardware have been replaced at Ward Recreation Center.
• A new set of steps to access the tennis courts has been constructed at Wild Horse Creek Park.

These are just a few of the numerous projects that you will see in the next few years that will update and revitalize our parks' system. For a complete listing of projects and updates, see the Splost 2011 web page on the Cobb County website.

Register for Cobb Summer Camps Before They are all Filled!

Some camps are filled, but there are spots available still in many summer camps. Cobb Parks offers summer camps meeting the needs of almost any interest.  Camps are offered in arts and performance, recreation programs, tennis, golf, and therapeutics for special needs individuals.  New for this year are nature-related camps held at Hyde Farm in East Cobb. See the summer camp web page for start dates and information of the various programs.

Summer Concerts and Acrobatic Show Coming to Cobb

Residents will enjoy an exciting summer concert series at Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre, presented by Amazon Tickets and Events. Tickets are on sale at all Ticketmaster outlets and ticketmaster.com. Tickets will also be on sale at the Mable House box office during limited hours. Shows include Steel Magnolia on June 29th, Lorrie Morgan on July 27th, Marty Stuart on August 11th and Little Texas/Restless Heart on August 24th. Tables that seat six are available for $402, terrace one seats are $45, terrace two are $35 and lawn seats are $25.

In addition to the summer concert series, the South Cobb Arts Alliance is hosting the free Summer Candlelite Concert series also to be held at Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre. Shows include Randall Bramblett Band on June 16th, Blair Crimmins and the Hookers on August 18th, Kayla Taylor Jazz on September 8th and Men in Blues on October 6th. All concerts begin at 8:00pm and gates open at 7:00pm. Lawn seating is free, tables in front of the stage are available for $50. Season tables for all five concerts are available for $225. For more information, visit southcobbarts.org.

Mable House will also present the Golden Dragon Acrobats at 2:00pm, Friday, June 8th. The Dallas Morning Star called the show a "good old-fashioned razzle dazzle...Ripples of amazement all the way to the back row..." Reserved seats are $25 for adults and $10 for children. Lawn admission is $15 for adults and $8 for children. Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre is located at 5239 Floyd Road in Mableton. For more information, call (770) 819-7765.

Look for the Art Station at Your Local Library this Summer!
The Art Station - Big Shanty will be working with the Cobb County Public Library System to offer hands-on art projects for children of all ages. This year the library summer program theme is “Dream Big: READ” and all projects will relate to this theme. All sessions are free and open to the public! The scheduled programs are:

Powder Springs Library: Tuesday, June 5th from 11:00am-12:00pm
West Cobb Library: Monday, June 18th from 7:00pm-8:00pm
Kemp Memorial Library: Thursday, July 19th from 11:00am-12:00pm

For more information, contact one of the above libraries or call the Art Station at (770) 514-5930.

Macro Mayhem and Sewell Mill Creek Hike at East Cobb Park

Do you like to get your feet wet? Come go creek hiking at East Cobb Park and learn about the organisms and animals that live in our streams and creeks with staff from the Water and Parks Departments. Staff from both departments will be there to guide you on your creek hike where you’ll be looking for macro organisms to identify, such as crayfish, snails or the larvae stage of damselflies, dragonflies, and caddisflies. This event is on Wednesday, June 6th from 9:30am-11:30am and is for ages 7 to adult. The fee is $2.00 per person.

Look for other 'Outdoor Romping and Creek Stomping' family series programs throughout the summer, including 'Whose Tracks are These' at Lost Mountain Park on June 5th, 'Heritage, Hiking and History' at Hyde Farm on June 19th, and 'Wetland Walk' on the Corps Property on June 20th. To register or for additional information contact, Karen Faucett at karen.faucett@cobbcounty.org or phone (770) 528-8803.

Tennis Courts Scheduled for Refurbishing
Several of Cobb's tennis courts are receiving much needed maintenance this spring and summer. Hurt Road Park has recently been resurfaced and ready for play. Work is underway on reconstruction of 6 tennis courts and resurfacing of 6 courts at Fair Oaks Tennis Center. At Lost Mountain Tennis Center, 4 tennis courts have been resurfaced with 8 scheduled later this summer. Other projects scheduled include reconstruction of 2 courts and resurfacing of 14 courts at Harrison Tennis Center, and resurfacing at Terrell Mill Tennis Center, Sweetwater Tennis Center, Kennworth Tennis Center, and Sewell Park. The funding for refurbishing these facilities comes from the lease of cell phone towers located in the parks system. During the repairs, there will be some disruption of programs and court availability - contact your tennis center for updates and schedule.

Art a la Carte Workshops at The Art Station - Big Shanty
Order up a specialty art workshop a la carte! You are welcome to come anytime within the class period - most projects will take kids about 30 minutes. Parents attend with child. Please note that pre-registration is highly recommended, as this allows staff to prepare the right amount of materials.

Friday, June 15th - It’s time to celebrate the fathers in our lives! Kids 2–13 years old (and their parents) are welcome to come to “Pop-ups for Pop” any time between 3:30pm-5:00pm. We’ll be making special pop-up Father’s Day cards. The fee for this program is $5.00.

Friday, June 29th - Celebrate Independence Day in style! Kids 2-13 years old (and their parents) are welcome to come to “Hats Off to America” anytime between 3:30pm-5:00pm. We’ll be making patriotic top hats to wear on July 4th. The fee for this program is $5.00.

Stay Cool this Summer at Cobb's Outdoor Pools

Cobb has two outdoor pools where your family can stay cool this summer: Powder Springs pool and Sewell Park pool. Powder Springs pool is located at 3899 Brownsville Road in Powder Springs. The Sewell Park pool is located at 2055 Lower Roswell Road in Marietta.

Pool hours are 1:00pm–5:00pm, Tuesday–Saturday. The pools are closed on Sundays and Mondays. Beginning July 8th, the Sewell Park pool will have Sunday hours from 1:00pm-5:00pm. For more information regarding the pools, see our website.

2012 'Fun in the Park' Photo Contest

As you are out enjoying Cobb County Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs parks and activities, be sure to bring your camera and capture the fun and memories of your sports activities, the beauty of nature and wildlife in the parks, and anything else that shows why you enjoy your day at the park. The 8th Annual "Fun in the Park' Photo Contest will be accepting entries throughout the summer. Enter up to 10 of your best shots for fun and awards! Open to all photographers. Digital and print photos accepted. See rules and download entry form below at the photo contest web page.

Horseshoe League at Larry Bell Park
The Cobb Area Horseshoe League meets every Thursday at 5:30pm, continuing through September. The league plays at Larry Bell Park, located at 592 Fairground Street in Marietta (courts are on Glover St. near Fairground). All skill levels are welcome and particiation is free. For information regarding the horseshoe league, contact Dennis Hajek at (770) 992-8422 or dennyhajek@yahoo.com.

Volleyball Night at Ron Anderson Recreation Center

Come join us for Volleyball Night at Ron Anderson Recreation Center. We have an open gym for adults and teens who would like to come out and play volleyball. It is FREE to participate - just come on by. Volleyball night is every Wednesday night from 6:00pm-9:00pm. A great way to make some new friends, get some exercise and have some fun!!! For information, contact Lionel Garrett at (770) 439-3611.

Arty Parties for Birthdays
Our art centers are now offering Arty Parties for Birthdays! The Mable House Arts Center, The Arts Place - Mountain View and The Arts Station - Big Shanty are available for art-inspired birthday parties! Available party days and times are subject to programming and staff availability. Contact us to schedule your party at least 3 weeks prior to your requested date. Parties are available for children ages 4-12 years old costing $5 to $7 per child, plus a room rental fee of $10 per hour and a refundable deposit of $50. For more information, contact your local arts center.