Stokes Park Christmas Carols

Stokes Park Christmas Carols

This year Westview neighbors gathered at the Stokes Avenue Pocket Park on Christmas Eve once again to get in the holiday spirit by singing Christmas carols and enjoy some hot chocolate and cookies.

To see photos of the Christmas caroling view the photo gallery below (click “continue reading”) or visit the Westview Facebook page.

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Christmas Eve Holiday Caroling

Neighbors will gather at the Stokes Avenue Pocket Park on Christmas Eve to sing carols and enjoy each other’s company. Refreshments will be served, but additional refreshments are always welcomed.

Take a look at photos from the 2012 caroling event: http://www.westviewatlanta.com/2012/12/2012-westview-caroling-photos/

Community Prayers in the Park

Date: Saturdays
Time: 8:30am
Location: Stokes Avenue Pocket Park, 1556 Stokes Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30310
Details: The Garden, Youth, and Membership Committees are partnering for “Community Prayers in the Park”. Every Saturday morning this fall, weather permitting.

2012 Westview Caroling

2012 Westview Caroling Photos

For the last two years a few lucky Westview neighbors had been able to enjoy the pleasure of carolers ringing their doorbell on December 24h. With all the hard work that was put into the Stokes Avenue Pocket Park in 2012 it only seemed appropriate to hold the 2012 Westview caroling event at the park. Neighbors decorated the park with string lights, brought snacks and beverages, and huddled around a small fire to sing Christmas songs.

To see photos of the holiday caroling event view the photo gallery below (click “continue reading”) or visit the Westview Facebook page.

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Hands On Atlanta Day at Stokes Avenue Pocket Park

Hands On Atlanta Day

On October 6th the Westview Community Organization participated in “Hands On Atlanta Day.” Thanks to an initial grant received through Hands On Atlanta for the Stokes Avenue Park in the spring, the WCO was eligible for a follow-up grant if participating on “Hands On Atlanta Day.” The grant purchased additional landscaping to be planted in the park. Neighbors and the “Youth of Westview” program came together to first clean up the pocket park and then plant peach trees, camellia and rose bushes, chrysanthemums, hostas, pansies, and a variety of other plants. The last task was spreading grass seed. Little by little the Stokes Avenue Pocket Park is developing into a little neighborhood oasis.

To view more photos of “Hands On Atlanta Day” please visit our Westview Facebook page.

Stokes Avenue Community Pocket Park

Park Taking Shape

Work on the Stokes Avenue Community Pocket Park continued on Saturday, June 16th, 2012. The park is starting to take shape – the picket fence is now complete, mulch was spread, additional landscaping was planted, and two raised beds were planted for a community herb garden. The work was rounded off with a picnic in the new park!

To view more photos of the Stokes Park work day please visit our Westview Facebook page.

Stokes Avenue Pocket Park

Landscaping For Pocket Park

In April fence construction was started on the Stokes Avenue Community Pocket Park. On Saturday, May 19, 2012 neighbors came back together to continue work on the park-to-be. One crew continued work on the fence while another crew planted shrubs and perennial flowers. The fence is funded thanks to an NPU-T grant and the landscaping is funded thanks to the “Love Your Block” grant.

Keep your eyes peeled for future work days at the new Stokes Avenue Community Pocket Park!

To view more photos of the Stokes Park work day please visit our Westview Facebook page.

Stokes Avenue Park Fence Construction

April Clean-Up Month Photos

The Westview Community Organization held a successful kick-off to the “April Clean-Up Month.” Neighbors came together on Saturday, April 7, 2012, to tackle two tasks:

One team roamed the streets to collect tires that have been dumped throughout the neighborhood. Thanks to Liberty Tire Recycling, the 100 collected tires (!) will no longer be littering the Westview neighborhood.

The second team set out to start constructing a picket fence around the new Stokes Avenue Community Park (or at least park to be!). Thanks to the “NPU-T” grant the neighborhood was able to fund a picket fence. The fence is yet to be completed, but good progress has been made.

Thanks to all the volunteers who made it out! We hope to see you out for the next two clean-up days on Saturday, April 14, and Saturday, April 21.

To view more photos of the tire clean-up and fence construction please visit our Westview Facebook page.

Stokes Ave Park Fence Project

Date: Saturday, April 7th, 2012
Time: 9:00am
Meet-up: KIPP STRIVE Academy, 1444 Lucile Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30310 or 1556 Stokes Avenue
Details: In addition to the tire clean-up, Westview residents are also encouraged to help construct a picket fence at the new pocket park at 1556 Stokes Avenue.

Sad House Turns Community Park

Stokes Avenue Park Before

Sometimes progress appears slow, but patience and hard work show that good things come to those who wait.

A property at 1556 Stokes Avenue, commonly referred to by neighbors as “the blue box,” was an eyesore for years. The 1980s infill construction was a bland looking two story box with a faux roof, siding falling off the walls, and overgrown grass. As with many code enforcement issues, the owner of the property was hard to track down, but was eventually found and a court date was set for March 2010.

The story turns out to be quite a bizarre one. When members of the community showed up in court to fight against the owner it became known that the property, among others, had been left in the woman’s name by her estranged husband. Only recently being made aware of the properties she was quick to come to an agreement of signing the property over to the community so the house could be torn down and turned into a pocket park.

With the help of the University Community Development Corporation (UCDC) the property was demolished in October 2011 and turned over to the community. And thanks to two grants, the “NPU-T” grant and the “Love Your Block” grant, the land will be turned into a pocket park for neighbors to enjoy!

Stay tuned for updates on how this sad house will be turned into a community spot.