The first new playground in Murphey Candler Park in decades will break ground later this year thanks in part to the Resurgens Charitable Foundation and the Murphey Candler Park Conservancy. The foundation recently awarded the conservancy a $75,000 grant toward the construction of a new playground at the park.
The donation is the largest single donation to the MCPC to date. The City of Brookhaven and the MCPC are partnering on the design and financing of the project. The playground will be located on the west side of Brookhaven’s largest park, between the historic caretaker’s home and the pool, and will be fully accessible and geared toward children of all ages and abilities.
Information: www.murpheycandlerpark.org or www.resurgensfoundation.com

Brookhaven, Georgia – April 11, 2016 – Murphey Candler Park Conservancy (MCPC) celebrates Earth Day with the first annual Spring Social event. The event benefits the MCP Conservancy’s efforts to sustain and enhance Brookhaven’s largest park.
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On Friday, April 22, 2016 join host MCPC at the first annual Earth Day Spring Social. Murphey Candler Park’s second food truck and community event focuses on park conservation efforts and the MCPC’s top priority, playground renovation. Located at the existing playground area and paved horseshoe, the event showcases the area’s potential for a premier playground and community event venue. The Spring Social starts at 5:30pm and is a family friendly event.

Experience the natural beauty of Murphey Candler Park while eating delicious food from award-winning food trucks, Sweet Auburn BBQ, Happy Belly and Flatbread Bistro, as well as local desserts and Italian ices from Wright’s Gourmet and Rita’s. Grab a beer or glass of wine and jam to the local Trey Boyer Band. 

​In addition to great food and entertainment, Brookhaven groups bring volunteers, education and children’s activities to the Spring Social. 

• MCPC, Adopt the Park and Playground Renovation Initiatives.
• GreenbergFarrow, Final Park Master Plan 
• Sustainable Water Planning & Engineering, Nancy Creek/ Murphey Candler Park Lake Watershed Study.
• Girl Scouts, Bird Conservation Education and a Children’s Activity.
• Boy Scouts, Event Cleanup and Bottled Water Sales.
• Kittredge Magnet School’s Recycling Team, Recycling Education.

The MCPC relies on sponsors and volunteers to ensure the success and continuation of community events like the Earth Day Spring Social.  Opportunities to support this event are still available.

Murphey Candler Park Neighborhood resident, Steve Peters, gives park cleanup days new momentum with Adopt the Park Initiative. 

For years, MCPC has initiated park cleanup days at Murphey Candler Park. Volunteers gather and focus on clearing fallen tree limbs, debris and invasive plants like ivy. The highlight is always getting the canoes out of storage and picking the lake shoreline for yucky, storm leftovers. These cleanup days are a vital component of park maintenance and awareness.

Recently, Steve Peters, a twenty year resident of MCP, spearheaded the Adopt the Park initiative. Steve is targeting sports leagues, local businesses, Girl and Boy Scouts, charitable organizations, local schools and more. His goal is to encourage each organization to adopt a section of the park.

Brookhaven, GA, Jan. 4, 2016 - For their safety, residents and visitors are advised to stay off of the nature trail pedestrian bridge at Murphey Candler Park until the structure is replaced. 

The city is currently working on retrieving expedited bids for emergency replacement quotes, and is considering installing a temporary bridge. Access to the bridge has been closed by the city and signs are posted advising visitors to keep off. 

The bridge was damaged in November after a tree fell on it, and a claim was submitted to the city of Brookhaven's insurance carrier immediately. An insurance adjuster was concerned that the bridge was no longer usable and dangerous to pedestrians, which was confirmed by C&D Engineers & Associates, who stated in their report, "Please do not open this bridge to public; it is very unsafe." 

Per standard policy, the insurance company will reimburse the city up to $100,000 if the cost to replace the bridge equals or exceeds that amount. 

"The city is working to get this resolved as quickly and efficiently as possible," said District 1 Councilperson Linley Jones. "I am concerned about our residents' safety, and urge pedestrians to stay off the bridge until it is replaced." 

As part of the city's master plan process for individual parks, a design for a replacement bridge has been completed and can be seen below. 

The public will be notified as soon as possible of plans to install a temporary bridge and of the status of the bridge replacement.

Sept 14, 2015 – Murphey Candler Park Conservancy (MCPC) hosts the second annual Duck Duck Goose 5K and new Duck Duck Food Truck events to benefit Murphey Candler Park. MCPC is a volunteer-run 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that supports priority park projects to make Brookhaven’s largest park a premier park in metro Atlanta.

Despite freezing temperatures, the November 15th 2014 Duck Duck Goose 5K exceeded typical first race registration averages. Over 400 registrants braved the icy 25 degree morning to race our beautiful lakeside trails and challenging neighborhood hills. Elite junior triathlete Darr Smith Jr holds the course record. It is not necessary to be an elite runner to enjoy this course. Babies in strollers and leashed dogs came out to run in last years Duck Duck Goose 5K.

To avoid harsh November temps, MCPC moved the 2015 Duck Duck Goose 5K up almost one month to October 24th. The MCPC predicts this date will attract more racers not only because the event will be warmer but also because UGA Football has an open weekend. People looking for a great October event should join friends and support the Duck Duck Goose 5K and Murphey Candler Park by running, walking or volunteering. The 2015 finish location has changed to the recreational field on the corner of West Nancy Creek and Candler Lake East.

The MCPC hopes local park patrons such as the Marist CC team and Kittredge Magnet School will encourage event registrations. Already the Montgomery Elementary Run Club pledged their park support by enlisting over 190 runners and 40 coaches.

A new community social, Duck Duck Food Truck, kicks-off the fun Friday, October 23rd. Murphey Candler Park’s very own Trey Boyer Band will provide live music previously heard at the 2015 Atlanta Colt Youth Association opening ceremonies. Food trucks and Sweetwater Brewing Company (event sponsor) will gather in the West Nancy Creek and Candler Lake West parking lot. This will be the first food truck event hosted in MCP. The MCPC encourages the Brookhaven and surrounding communities to enjoy the park and “Eat, Drink & Groove” by the lake.

Proceeds Benefit the MCPC

All Duck Duck Goose 5K proceeds benefit the Murphey Candler Park Conservancy and their efforts to support the park. The MCPC is a volunteer, nonprofit stakeholder, community voice and project fund source. Partnering with the community and City of Brookhaven, MCPC is an advocate for the preservation, care and improvement of MCP. In 2015 MCPC established it's top five organizational priorities: Build a model playground; restore the historic caretaker’s house to a community multi-use structure; dredge the lake to maintain aquatic health and shoreline; establish park architectural and design standards; and remove invasive vegetation.

Media Contact:
Ashley Pincott, pincotta@hotmail.com
404.980.5045

Register on active.com,  murpheycandlerpark.org
Follow Us @DDGoose5K

Please email to request Media Kit access

Includes high-resolution photos from 2014 DDGoose5K, 2015 DDGoose5K, DD Food Truck and MCPC logos, 2015 marketing artwork files and 2015 Event Details.

Brookhaven, Georgia - May 18, 2015 – The City of Brookhaven Parks and Recreation Department partners with local conservancies and communities to clean up parks and trails. The clearing of invasive plants benefits the MCP Conservancy’s efforts to sustain and enhance the largest park in Brookhaven.

In an in an effort to sustain the mature forest within the parks, The City of Brookhaven has employed a contractor for the mulching and removal of non-native, non-mature and invasive plants throughout it’s parks. Work began last week at Murphey Candler Park’s east side. The decision to begin this work was based on input gathered from the local park communities wishing to clear invasive plants.
Invasive privet, kudzu, ivy, non-native understory trees and downed/dead material is being affected by the clearing. None of the mature forest is being removed. The removal of the understory areas assists in continued, healthy growth and allows the parks to be maintained in a more prudent manner in years to come.
Restoring the trail system is a priority. The contractor will remove any and all mulching debris to delineate where the trail system and its spurs are currently being used.
MCP Conservancy is exploring low impact maintenance options like use of goats to ensure ivy and invasive plants are suppressed. Plans to revive native plant communities in the forest will provide visual enhancements in effected areas restoring its natural beauty. The May 30th Murphey Candler Park workday hopes to draw a large group of community supporters. Community support is the key to refreshing the area and developing a healthy urban forest.

Direct park concerns to:

Gary Schussler, CPRP
gary.schussler@brookhavenga.gov
Office: (404) 637-0548
Fax: (404) 637-0539