Parks and recreation in Georgia [Vol. 0, No. 6 (Nov.-Dec. 1974)]

!?/lutJ and~~cakn
Jf: ~~ea

THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES OFFICE OF PLANNING AND RESEARCH RECREATION PLANNING SECTION

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 1974

FROM THE COMMISSIONER

The past twelve months has been an 'exciting period in the growth and development of recreation serviees at the local level in our state. One item of particular
interest is the fact that approximately 20 new recrea-
tion and parks departments have been created by local governments. We are extremely proud that we have been able to play some part in almost all of these establishments both through the Recreation & Park Assistance Fund and our technical assistance program.

The Recreation Planning Section of DNR conducted a "Seminar for New Recreation Directors" in Macon, October 2-3, with approximately 30 new Directors in attendance. Sessions were conducted by George. Chambliss, Director, Dalton Parks & Recreation Department, Charles . Clegg, Recreation Faculty, University of Georgia, Jim Miller, Director Cobb County Parks & Recreation, Thad Studstill, NRPA Southeast Region Director; Jim Oates, Chief, Recreation Planning Section, and the Recreation Planning Section staff Topics discussed included such items as. Citizen Relationships, Financial Resources, and Professional Responsibilities and Relationships.

Another point of particular interest to me is the list of personnel reported on page five. Many of these are new positi0ns which have been created by the new agencies whileothers relate to program expansion in existing agencies. To me this reflects that every day we are continuing to provide expanded leisure service to the citizens of Georgia.
Let me take this opportunity to congratulate each one of you for this tremendous growth. While the Department of Natural Resources has been involved, our involvement has been in large measure due to your interest and support. You deserve much of the credit whether you are a recreation and park administrator, staff member, board member or interested citizen. The legislative support and the referral of interested communities to our Recreation Planning Section has made it possible for us to render to the citizens of Georgia the type of service they need and have demanded.
Sincerely,

SOUTHERN PINE BEETLE -A THREAT TO PARK LANDS
(Editor's Note. Several Recreation Directors have expressed concern as to the threat of destruction of pine trees in community parks by the southern pine beetle. It is hoped that the following article, authored by Terry Price, Forest Entomologist, Georgia Forestry Commission, will aid you in detecting any infestation that might occur in your parks. For further information, contact your local Georgia Forestry Commission.)
The southern pine beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis Zimm., is one of the most destructive insect enemies of pines in Georgia. This bark beetle is native to Georgia and attacks pine of pulpwood and sawtimber size, quickly killing the trees by girdling the cambial region and introducing a bluestain fungus that blocks the water conducting tissues. The southern pine beetle is particularly destructive in stands of low vigor where outbreaks are often triggered by soil-moisture stresses and man-caused disturbances. This pest has the potential to increase rapidly in response to the presence of stresses susceptible hosts.
The southern pine beetle is short-legged, stout, and about l /8 inch long (Bennett and Ciesla, 1971 ). Mature beetles are dark reddish-brown. Female beetles initiate the attack and after initial gallery construction are joined by the males. When populations are large, thousands of beetle pairs may invade a single tree. Each pair constructs a winding S-shaped gallery between the bark and the wood. The pearly white eggs just visible to the naked eye, are deposited singly in individual niches cut into the sides of each gallery The galleries may girdle the tree Bluestain fungi introduced by the beetles, hasten tree death by blocking the water conducting tissues.
Eggs hatch into whitish, legless larvae, which are about 1/8 inch long when fully developed. Newly hatched larvae mine in the soft inner bark, older larvae mine outward into the drier corky bark. When fully grown, the larvae change to the resting stage, or pupa. Following pupation, the young adults chew exit holes through the bark, emerge and disperse in search of suitable host material. The duration of the life cycle may vary from 26 days in the summer to 3Yz months in the winter (Thatcher).
The southern pine beetle typically kills pines in groups ranging in size from a few trees to stands of several acres in size. In the spring and summer, pine
2

needles turn yellow or straw-colored over the entire crown within two to three weeks after the tree has been attacked, and finally turn a reddish-brown. Attacked trees may remain green for longer periods during the winter
Upon close examination of dead and dying trees, you may find accumulations of reddish-brown particles of boring dust that have been pushed from the entrance holes made by the beetles. Boring dust accumulates in the bark crevices and sometimes at the tree base. Small light yellow to reddish-brown pitch tubes often resembling popcorn in size and shape, may be seen on the bark in the middle and upper sections of the tree.
Adult male of the southern pine beetle. Note the groove on the head.
Yard trees should be protected from construction damages such as fill dirt, bulldozer scrapes and root damage. Basically, any occurrence that acts to weaken a tree will make the tree more susceptible to a beetle attack. Infested yard trees should be cut down and either burned or carried to a landfill and buried. Red top trees seldom contain active beetle populations, therefore, green infested trees cannot be saved by spraying because the fungus that is introduced by the adult beetles can kill the tree regardless.
When it is impossible to remove infested trees, the trees should be cut down and sprayed with insecticide. Thorough coverage of all infested bark is important.
The recommended insecticide is a 2% Lindane-fuel
oil solution (1 part 20% Lindane emulsifiable concentrate to 39 parts diesel fuel). Bark beetle spray
(continued on page 3)

PINE BEETLE (continued from page 2)
formulations are also available to hardware stores as a Lindane-water emulsion. Caution. Care should be taken to avoid prolonged contact of Lindane with the skin as it may cause severe skin irritation. Rubber gloves and safety goggles should be worn when applying this material.
Based on aerial surveys conducted this year ( 1974), southern pine beetle populations are considered to be high in northeast Georgia. In February of 1974, beetle infestations were discovered to exist in Chatham County This was the first time th~ southern pine beetle had been recorded as doing major damage below the fall line. (Macon south)

NASHVILLE INITIATES NEW RECREATION DEPARTMENT
Nashville, a rural Georgia City of approximately 4,30Q p.eople, has established its first full-time Parks /fl, Recreation Department. Mr Michael Allen, a Park & Recreation Administration graduate from Georgia Southern College, has been named Director Mr Allen who had done an excellent job as the city's summer director was asked to assume full-time responsibilities in August.

The Coastal Plain Area Planning and Development

Commission has worked very closely with Mr Allen

and Mayor Bobby Carroll .1n establishing the new

department. The initial program will be complimented

by a $10,000 Bureau .of Outdoor Recreation grant
for park development. ..BOR funds will be used to

develop Nashville's first community park and to

construct additional facilities at Tygart and Beetree

Parks.



INSURANCE FOR RECREATION IN FLOOD PLAIN
Recreation & Parks Departments owning or planning to purchase park land located in a flood plain will be interested in a new flood plain insurance program to cover existing or proposed construction in that plain.
Financial relief from flood damages in the form of low cost insurance is now or soon will be available

to most of Georgia's citizens under the provisions of the National Flood Insurance Program. Administered by the U S. Department of Housing and Urban Development with assistance from the Department of Natural Resources, the program was revised in 1973.
Under the new law, all identified flood prone communities must enter the flood insurance program by July 1, 1975, and must adopt appropriate land use and other control measures to reduce the chances of flood losses. Failure to comply, in the case of either the community or individual and property owner, would disqualify them from virtually any
in foirn of financial assistance from the Federal Govern-
1tlent for construction the floodplain,orfrom any financial help from any federally insured, regulated, or supervised lending institution.
More than 70 Georgia cities and counties, including most major urban areas, are already in the program and flood insurance is now required in these communities if the hazard areas have been defined. Ha~ardareas for more than 240 Georgia communities are now in the process of being mapped.
As the State coordination office, the Department of Natural Resources will provide upon request, the following information .
a list ofcommunities in which flood insurance may be sold and/or is required.
access to maps of official FIA flood hazard areas
information on existing studies delineating flood hazard areas
applications and other information on the Flood Insurance Program
a list of known flood hazard areas (by city and coi.mty)
For further information contact
Flood Plain Management Resource Planning Department of Natural Resources 270 Washington Street, S. W Atlanta, Georgia 30334
3

ARE YOU MEETING THE REGULATIONS?
On August 12, 1968, Congress passed Public Law 90-480 to insure that certain buildings financed with Federal funds are so designed and constructed as to be accessible to the physically handicapped. Any building which is to be accessible to the public and which is financed in whole or in part by a grant or loan made by the United States after the above mentioned date must be accessible to the physically handicapped. The law does apply to all grants from the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Outdoor Recreation (the Land and Water Conservation Funds) which many recreation and park departments in Georgia utilize. If the regulations are not being complied with, the funding process can be terminated until such time that the regulations are being met. Also, if a structure is constructed utilizing Federal funds and has not been constructed in such a manner so as to meet the regulations, action can be taken to insure that the structure is adapted to meet the necessary requirements. Information relative to these regulations can be obtained from the Recreation Planning Section, DNR, by contacting Bert Weerts in the Funding Unit or Jim Ryan in the Technical Assistance Unit.
Example of some of the regulations are listed below
Sidewalks
5% maximum grade preferably 3% 51 minimum width preferably 61
Parking Areas
clearly identified for handicapped-may use the International Symbol of Accessibility
Power at remote location for drive-up phone installation.
91 minimum width-if provided in multiple parking spaces as single spaces.
Near accessible entrances.
Curbs
Wheelchair cuts or ramps in all curbs 41 minimum width 8% maximum grade-preferably 5%
Ramps
8% maximum grade-preferably 5% Handrails, both sides, 32" high, extending 1I
beyond top and bottom of ramp Level platform at door, 51 minimum depth, clearing
doorway by 1I on each side. 61 straight clearance at bottom Non-slip surface
4

BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATED IN CHATHAM WITH PUPPET PAGEANTRY
The Chatham County Recreation Department is demonstrating an effective way a local recreation department can become involved in the Bicentennial. The Department has applied for and received a 50/50 matching grant from the Georgia Council for the Arts to finance a Puppet Pageantry program entitled "Spirit of 1776."
The purpose of the program is "to bring the Revolutionary War Period to children in the Chatham County Area by means of puppetry, and through workshops to stimulate the creation of puppets to illuminate the Bicentennial theme." This is accomplished by the conduction of workshops and performances in numerous locations throughout Chatham County from October through December of this year
If you'd like to learn more about this program, you may attend daily demonstrations, November 6 & 7, at the Georgia Conference on Recreation and Parks in Savannah at the DeSoto Hilton.

~===!

The Public Recreation in Georgia Study, which was last revised in 1969-1970, is in the

~ -

process of being updated. This study examines ~

~
.,_~

facilities, programs, personnel, budgets, salaries, financial sources, etc., of public recreation and parks agencies throughout Georgia. This information is of particular value to the local director as resource information for preparing budgets

t 6
=
11;
.

~ 0

..,_'
~

an:::o::: ::::'Questionnalles have been
mailed to all directors and are due back to

~1_.

Recreation Planning by November 15 Directors, ~"'

t- t if you have not completed and returned your questionnaire, do so today The information can ~~.~ . only be of full value to everyone if each and
every agency responds. The sooner you respond,

t the sooner Recreation Planning can send you

the compiled results.

~

~~"f~rt<r-~I~~n<r;::..f$~"~I~~""

SEVEN YEARS AGO .
The average per capita expenditure for recreation in Georgia, according to the 1967 Public Recreation in Georgia Study, was $3.53 Today it is $5.91

SPECIALOLYMPICS FILMS & MATERIALS AVAILABLE

To schedule one of the films and/or request program materials, contact

Special Olympics films and program materials are available upon request for use in your community Films available include
1 "TO BE mE BEST I AM" 16 minute film made by the Department of Natural Resources about Georgia's team that attended the 1972 National Games in Los Angeles.

Susan Burdick, Director Georgia Special Olympics 270 Washington St., Room 703-B Atlanta, Georgia 30334 (404) 656-2790
RECENT PERSONNEL APPOINTMENTS

2. "1972 NATIONAL SPECIAL OLYMPICS" ~ 19 minute film.presented by. the ABC Wide World of Sports on the 1972 National Games.
3. "A NEW KIND OF JOY':'- U minute film shows the spirit of the Speeial Olympic program and the determination and courage of the participants.
4. "A DREAM TO GROW ON" - 28 minute film demonstrating the ability of the mentally retarded to develop confidence and exp~rience success throu~ athletics.
5. "FLOOR _HOCKEY" .-: 17 minute film instruction of flooi" hoc_k~y to :retarded~ .;
Program materials available ~clqde ,
1 GUIDE TO LOCAL PROGRAMS - give's baSic inforination on setting up the program in the local . communities.
2. INSTRUCTION MANUAL gives excellent lessons for fitness, .swimming, track and fielq, and volleyball. -
3 OFFICIA.L RULES 1974- includes rules for track and field, sw1mmipg, .diving, gymnastics, volleyball, floor hOckey, and bowling.
4. FLOOR- HOCKEY TRAJNING MANUAL gives basic skills .and .rules. . .
5 SPECIAL OLYiiPIC TRAINING PLAN - brief
pamphlet with exercises .for participants and message to parents~ ~~ '
6. "A NEW KIND OF JOY" - a brochure giving the history and phih;>sophy .of Special Olympics.
Publications will be sent upon request at no charge from the state office as long as they are available.

Taylor Adams Asst. Director of Parks, Glynn

County Gale Peterson Asst. Director ofRecreation, Glynn
County Don Funderburke Area Supervisor, Glynn County Fred Griffith Area Supervisor, Glynn County Nancy Strong Community Recreation Director,
Cobb County Joe Shuford Special Programs Coordinator, Dalton Marty Friedman Supervisor of Special Programs,
Therapeutic, Dalton

FrankDrinkard Community Recreation DireCtor,

. .~ .

Cobb County

Richard Clarke Recreation Leader, Cobb County

)ac~::$ti;Ig~rs: . .Recreation Leader, Cobb County

Dt

Jr ~ds~~ Recreation Faculty, Kennesaw College

.Tennis .ttenter Manager, Cobb County
:.Wles . Director, Rome-Floyd County

Angelus Asst.Diiector, Rome-Floyd

. County . Jim Pinson Athletic Director~ Rome-Floyd County
TommY Han Program Dii"ector, Summerville
Randy Jones ~uperintendent of Parks, Smyrna
Loyce Harpe Dir~ct.or,Habersh<lm County
Mike.Bryarit,- Director, Ellijay-Gilmer Cour!ty
Jeff McOoriald . DireCtor, Madison County , Stanley Boggus Director, FitzgeraJd~Ben Hill
C<Junty .,

Bubba Harrison DireCtor, Adel-Cook County Russell Haley Director, Eatonton Charles Beale Director, Millen-Jenkins County Gary Bracewell Director, Dooly County

Tom Fransworth Director, Henry County Michael Ailen Director, Nashville . Lou Hege Director, Snellville Ralph Stanley Director, Trion Arlene Antilla Director, Peachtree City

Billy Krause Director, Lafayette Vicki Claxton Recreation Therapist, Dept. of
Human Resources, Atlanta Mel Baxter Parks Manager, Athens Cheryl Plunkett Center Director, College Park Mitchell Huff Program Director, Clarke County

(continued on page 6)

5

PERSONNEL (continued from page 5)
Chrystos Siderelis Recreation Faculty, University of Georgia
Frank Breedan Community Recreation Director II, Cobb County
Ranzie Morris C:enter SuperVisor, Macon Judy Spires Assistant Center Supervisor, Macon Larry Wright Center Supervisor, Macon Roslyn Hall Athletic Supervisor, Macon Pat Rising Boys' Program Director, Statesboro Johnny Mills Center Director, Statesboro Ann Rumble Women's & Girls' Director, Statesboro

POSITIONS AVAILABLE**

Rome-Floyd County Women's Athletic Coordinator Valdosta (1) Therapeutic Director
(2) Program Director White County Recreation Director Lawrenceville Recreation Director Toccoa Athletic Director Troup County Recreation Supervisor Lafayette Program Director Cobb County Community Director II

**For further infonnation, contact Tom Martin in Recreation Planning Section, Department of Natural Resources.

DATES TO REMEMBER

November

5

State Board of Recreation Examiners

Savannah, Georgia

5-7

G~orgia Conference on Recreation .&

Parks

DeSoto Hilton

Savannah, Georgia

28

Thanksgiving Holiday

December 25

Christmas Day

DID YOU KNOW THAT
Clerical assistance may be available through your local school system's distributive education classes?
Your Recreation Department is subject to sales tax regulations if the Director or someone on the Recreation Commission writes the checks?
There are now 98 full-time Recreation and Parks Departments in Georgia?.
The GRPS Board of Trustees "recently adopted a redistricting plan, which will result in the state being divided into seven districts? The greatest changes will occur in current districts four and six.
The National Church Softball Tournament will be held in Georgia next year ata place and date yet to be determined.
COMMUNITIES DEDICATE FACILITIES
Trion The City of Trion .has just completed construction
of a $600;000 Recreation. tenter On September 29th, over 250:local citizens attended the Center dedication. Ralph Stanley, Trion's new full-time Director, has recently set up his office in the new center building.
Dalton . The Dalton Parks & Recreation Department dedi-
cated Brookwood Park, a nieghborhood park, and Nochumson Tennis Courts on September 22. The park was a $60,000 project in which $30,000 of Land and Water Cortservation Funds were used.
Macon Bloomfield Community Center. was dedicated by
the Macon-Bibb County Recreation Department on September 8. This recreation center, the first for Macon in over 20 years, was built with Revenue Sharing funds at a cost of $242,000.

Published Bi-Monthly by Department of Natural Resources Office of Planning and Research
Recreation Planning Section 270 Washington Street Atlanta, Georgia 30334
Telephone: (404) 656-2790
Approx. Cost $318

6

~ '"""'"'.l OOAO Pt-i n t l . , . . . . . _