Skip to main content
College of Environment and Design

Park Planner and Team Create COVID Hub for ACC

Daniel Sizemore, Park Planner for ACCThose familiar with Athens Clarke County (ACC) government may recognize the name Daniel Sizemore, a CED alum currently working in park planning for the city. In his regular day to day, he plans innovative greenspaces and multiuse trails that address the specific needs and wants of the nearby residents. Since the coronavirus pandemic, however, his day to day has changed significantly.

 

 

Just three days after transitioning to remote work pursuant to ACC’s shelter in place guidelines, Sizemore and others were assigned to ACC’s COVID Data Response Team. The ultimate goal of the team is to collect data, then present that data in the form of maps and web apps to the public and city managers. Sizemore and his team began working on what he calls “the hub,” which functions as ACC’s one-stop-shop to detail the city’s response to the pandemic and provide resources for the community. Sizemore created the hub and organized the content generated by the entire eteam.

 

the hub, detailing Athens' response to the coronavirus  

Visit the Hub

 

Notable features of the hub include the open/closed status of Athens’ various parks and greenspaces, the locations of pharmacies, health providers, food assistance, and more. The hub also contains various reports detailing various demographic and institutional information such as average age, number of at-risk Athenians, testing sites at the state level, and typical hospital bed counts.

 

Sizemore graduated from CED with a master’s in Landscape Architecture in 2016, though his work for ACC started much earlier than that. While working on his thesis, Sizemore began working in ACCGov’s Leisure Services Department. According to him, the most valuable things he learned while at CED were the breadth of GIS capabilities, collaboration among various groups related to park planning (such as construction crews, landscapers, the resident population, and city officials), attention to detail, and data analysis and visualization.

 

Key among these lessons was the importance of making data easily digestible and relevant. In order to make sense of the data generated, Sizemore uses his skills to create clear, concise graphics and text that communicate the most valuable information to those who need it. Especially in times of crisis, sharing accurate information becomes even more of a priority. Sizemore recognizes this need, and works diligently to make life easier for Athens residents.

 

 Dudley Park

Dudley Park, from ACCGov.com

 

Sizemore is also working to make an impact on the built environment of Athens. Through a partnership between ACCGov’s Sustainability Office and the Park Planning Office, he and his team were instrumental in securing a $550,000 grant for ACC’s “Restore our River” project, which was started in 2019 as an effort to restore approximately 1 mile of a highly urbanized river corridor into a species-rich, ecologically diverse habitat. The funds will go toward Dudley Park, which covers 32-acres east of downtown Athens.

 

Sizemore is a sterling example of the kind of practical application of an education in Landscape Architecture. CED is proud not only of Sizemore and the work he does, but of his commitment to improving our local environment.

 

© University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602
706‑542‑3000