Outreach Project List

Family Counseling Services (FCS) offers therapy services to individuals, families, and support groups. This property is uniquely situated in a wooded setting, tucked back off a heavily trafficked road. There are over 4 acres of land with existing pine, poplar, oak, and river birch trees. Despite this idyllic setting and research about the benefits of outdoor therapies, there is no designated spot for outdoor therapy sessions. Much of the outdoor space is currently unused and inaccessible; the space is terraced, and the upper portion is too steep to safely access.

Counselors have cited the demand from clients for a therapy space outdoors. FCS mentioned specifically needing at least one small space for 1-on-1 therapy with decking, seating with a table, and an awning so that the space could be used in a variety of weather conditions. The property is also a prime candidate for the installation of a walking path for patients to reap the benefits of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy. The timeline is flexible and they would like to complete the work in phases. They are in the process of applying for grant funding.

The City of Newnan’s Development Authority is interested in redeveloping a prominent corridor in order to enhance connectivity with surrounding amenities and public facilities. The area of proposed redevelopment, Temple Avenue, is a corridor west of Downtown Newnan and Interstate 85 which has developed as an automobile-centric thoroughfare, lined with various fast-food restaurants and other automobile-centric businesses. Surrounding the target area is a series of residential neighborhoods, public facilities, and various schools that are cut off from many of the resources and amenities in the area due to the lack of pedestrian accessibility. There are potential connections with the Newnan LINC trail system and the former site of the Newnan Hospital.

The Development Authority realizes the potential for redevelopment along this corridor but needs a vision and a workplan that encompasses the full area of focus.

The Milledge Place Condominium Association Property is looking for a complete renewal of the Milledge Place property landscape. The property has its original 1980’s landscape. They are in the process of removing most of the trees and some bushes. Their goal is to develop a redesign of the property’s landscape so that it is in line with landscaping native to the area and requires minimum maintenance. They would also like landscaping to provide privacy where required from surrounding areas. The property is approximately 10+ acres, however 5-7acres (rough estimate) is developed incorporating 6 large buildings and a mail hut.

The Athens Housing Authority is seeking assistance planning a garden and outdoor kitchen space at the Tanyard Creek Community Center. They would like a space to grow veggies and fruit, an outdoor kitchen where people can gather and cook together, and a place to seek refuge from the summer heat. The stakeholders would like this garden to be a space where residents of all ages can come together and learn from one another, so ADA accessibility of paths and garden beds is a must. This site has recently been cleared of trees and is now located in full and intense sun. Limitations include lack of funding and manpower, and access to water needs to be considered (there is one outdoor spigot). Ideally, any plans provided would have the ability to be implemented in phases.

There is an underutilized city property that we would like to develop into a dog park. The site is 4.4 acres and is located in the heart of a developing mixed use residential community. We would like the park to reflect the character of the area. We are requesting two separate areas for small and large dogs, parking, and a covered pavilion area. The project has funding from SPLOST and implementation will be possible through grants with the parks and recreation department.

The Board of the Beulah Rucker Museum and Education Center would like to partner with CED on a master plan to enhance the appearance and functionality of the historic site and museum. The museum is dedicated to preserving African American heritage and promoting awareness of the contributions and personal sacrifice of Ms. Beulah Rucker Oliver (1888-1963). As a child of parents who grew up during slavery and were not allowed to be educated, Beulah began her life’s work in education at a young age and eventually founded her own school in Gainesville, GA. The foundation’s mission is to memorialize the life of this phenomenal woman through educational and civic activities that enhance the quality of community life. This museum is the first to focus on African American heritage in Gainesville-Hall County and North Georgia. Her former home and school provide a tangible link with the community’s past.

The 4-acre site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and includes a museum, two former houses, and woodlands. It is hidden off of Hwy 129 and needs enhanced visibility, parking, signage, and perhaps trails that are in keeping with the historic character of the site. The site is used for a variety of community events and would like to increase their programming, but needs a thoughtful plan for growth to enhance fundraising efforts and handle increased capacity. There is also an interest in capturing oral histories from local citizens involved in the establishment of the museum to further share its legacy. Explore the site via Google Maps and the Museum at www.beulahrucker.org.

Ramah Darom is a non-profit organization that operates a 185-acre summer camp and retreat center in the North Georgia Mountains. Prior to its use as a camp, the land belonged to the Cherokee Tribe and then a private homestead. We are looking to overlay our master site plan (which includes updating current facilities and some new construction) with an environmental assessment that ensures we protect the property for the long term. We want to establish directives on which parts of the site may be developed and which parts should be left as they are to ensure good stewardship of the property in years to come. We are able to provide additional information and documents including digital and/or print drawings/plans of the site upon request.

*Note: this project has funding and is able to support a graduate assistantship and/or costs associated with a service-learning course (travel, report production, etc.) Link to site maps / overview

Hidden in the woods along the North Oconee River Greenway is a small brick structure with arched windows reminiscent of City Hall. Built by architect and city engineer J.W. Barnett in 1916, the pump station brought water from a reservoir to the growing population of Athens. It sat unused and inaccessible until the construction of the Greenway and a pedestrian bridge over Sandy Creek, and it remains neglected. This property was listed on Historic Athens “Places in Peril” in 2002. Local citizens are interested in ideas, plans and illustrations for how it could become an adaptively reused resource for the public along the Greenway.

This is an ideal applied research project for a student interested in historic landscape planting design as a thesis / practicum. The Greek Revival Wray-Nicholson House on Hull St (now home to the UGA Alumni Association) was the residence of Ms. Lucy Nicholson, who served as the president of the Ladies Garden Club of Athens – the first garden club in America. She lived there for about 40 years from the 1920s to the 1960s before the house was sold and became a religious college in the 1960s, when the landscape was destroyed. Members of the Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation [now Historic Athens] were instrumental in saving the house from demolition, but many of us currently at CED were unaware of the house’s connection to the Ladies Garden Club of Athens, or, to Hubert Owens, CED, and the Founders Memorial Garden that were all developed during this period when Ms. Nicholson was active in the same circles. Ms. Nicholson’s papers are at UGA Special Collections. A sampling of information and historic photographs have been provided to CED in support of this project.

East Athens Development Corporation (EADC) has expanded their activities to include community-based micro enterprise, job training and development, affordable housing initiatives, and historic preservation and protection within the African American community. One of EADC’s focus areas include Community Engagement and Public Awareness which includes community appreciation and historic preservation. Part of this vision is to develop a plan for restoring the one-room Billups Grove School building. Success for this project would include the identification of committed stakeholders and an actionable plan to save the schoolhouse. A student team is invited to consult with EADC staff who will facilitate introductions with the community to ensure the plan is grounded in the history and importance of the site.

Macedonia Cemetery and Shady Grove are two sites located in Dooly County, GA. The Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church is seeking the CED’s assistance to document the history of the cemetery and to develop and install an indexing system and markers for those who will be interred in the future. The site provides the students a chance to physically link the past history to current people and places. Currently, the site has a lack of readily available recorded references about the people in the cemetery. The project should be completed by March 1, 2022. The budget for design work is $150.00 and the budget for installation is $1,500.00.

This National Register-listed Centennial farm has been in the Watson family for seven generations. It has several historic buildings in need of assessment, documentation and preservation, especially a pre-civil war saddlebag house, a c.1935 equipment shed / pole barn, and a c. 1935 double-pen barn. Link to Google Drive photos

The Georgia Club, a twenty year-old community, is experiencing rapid growth with an aging and haphazard landscape. The homeowners association is interested in Identification of landscaping problems to be corrected, along with creation of a long-range, environmentally sustainable Master Landscape Plan that provides an executable blueprint for the proper continued development. This is a large-scale project of over 1,200 acres and 500+ homes with ultimate build-out plans for 900 homes. There is a separately owned and managed Country Club, consisting of a 27-hole golf course, tennis and pickle ball courts, a clubhouse, etc. The two entities will need to work together to execute a common vision. Our community is well-funded and highly motivated. We would love to work directly with UGA faculty and students to create this plan!

This agro-tourism initiative on 3.6 acres in West Atlanta wants to produce a high yield pecan orchard within 5 years; create a destination for the surrounding west Atlanta community; design an ecologically resilient site that includes an onsite bookstore / coffee shop; and incorporate local, state, and federal agriculture resources into plan design, operations, and management. The anticipated deliverables are a concept design plan, planting plan, grading plan, cost estimate, short-term management plan, long-term management plan, and potential grant reports. The onsite bookstore component would be limited to less than 1 acre of the 3.6-acre site, with the remaining focused on vegetation.

This is a project for the community of Sea Palms West to transform a former 9-hole golf course into a low maintenance and ecologically sound green space. The property is approximately 40 acres, is comprised of 339 homeowners, is linked to a major bike / walking path on Frederica Road and is used by other residents of neighboring communities and visitors to St. Simons Island. The project goals include landscape design, forestry and wildlife enhancement, water management, enhancing and connecting the fisheries and lagoon, and park and recreation opportunities.

The Town of Homer owns approximately 28 acres which will be developed into a park. Key to this development is the creation of a model airplane airport being built on the adjacent private property. The Town DDA is looking for concept drawings including general placement of walking and biking trails, amphitheater, a splash pad, and parking. They are prepared to contribute up to $500 to offset student costs for transportation and printing.

The Koury family owns a 33-acre farm that is a hospitality-oriented vineyard and wedding venue in Barrow County Ga. The purpose of my request is to help generate agri-tourism related design concepts for my business. The Italian concept of agritourismo (introduction to country life with sustainable on-site food production) has become my inspiration for this project. Our intention is to continue operating as a wedding venue and vineyard / winery with the addition of on-site lodging, activities, education, and food production. Existing businesses of inspiration include: Babylonstoren Simondium, South Africa; Blackberry Farm Walland, Tennessee; Blue Hill at Stone Barns Tarrytown, New York; and Serenbe Chattahoochee Hill, Georgia.
Site improvement goals: Create an agri-tourism theme for an existing hospitality business that includes: Public recreation and activity spaces; Wildlife habitats for genetic diversity; Rotational grazing pastures; Forest, orchards, vineyard, vegetable garden; On-site lodging; Educational space.
Opportunities: Project design flexibility; limited existing constraints; beneficially positive interaction with local ecology; clean-slate, chance to redefine raw space; become an ecologically focused design model for future hospitality projects. Challenges: Maintain ecological diversity; site gradients; procedures for hyper-local abatement of climate change; correlate theme with exciting hospitality business; purpose-driven design; equal weighting of both form and function.
Timeline for completion: 36 months
Budget for design work: $1250
Budget for installation: $125,000