Summer Update: UGA Students Gain Experience in Dalton-Whitfield

Over the past several months, eight University of Georgia students have been hard at work in Dalton-Whitfield on projects authorized by the Archway Partnership Executive Committee. Read on to find out more about this exciting work.

Photography Students “Capture” Dalton-Whitfield on Film

In June, two University of Georgia photography majors arrived in Dalton-Whitfield to take photographs of interesting sites and events in the community. Thanks to the hospitality and guidance of Bill and Linda Blackman, Alex Palmour, a senior from Cloudland, Georgia, and Anna King, a senior from Commerce, Georgia, were able to capture several local events and individuals on film. This fall, their photographs will be displayed in Athens, Atlanta, and in Archway communities around the state. In addition, their photographs will be available in digital format for future community publications.

Thanks to all community members who assisted Alex and Anna in their endeavors!  Below are a few samples of their work this summer.

Image Copyright Alex Palmour 2010

 Image Copyright Anna King 2010

Image Copyright Alex Palmour 2010

Image Copyright Anna King 2010

Recreation & Leisure Studies Student Works with Area Youth

This summer, University of Georgia Senior Barrett Beck has been hard at work as the assistant camp director at Dalton Parks and Recreation. Under the supervision of Dalton Community Center Manager Tom Pinson, Program Director Mike Miller, and Summer Camp Director Myra Baker, Barrett has developed routines, schedules, and procedures for camp operations, supervised a staff of eight counselors, and ensured the health and safety of up to 25 campers. Barrett led the campers in indoor and outdoor games, supervised pool time, helped the students with math and reading, taught them about health, nutrition and exercise, and took them on field trips.

Barrett Beck mentors a camper at Dalton Parks & Recreation's Day Camp.

Environment & Design Students Provide Concepts for Parks, Trails, Crown Mill Village, and More

Environment & Design majors Casey Marbutt, Cameron Yates, Ross Tew, Kent Mallett, and Andrew Maxey spent their summer providing concepts and detailed designs for the City of Dalton, Whitfield County, Dalton State College, and Dalton Utilities. Each project is described below.

Dalton State College Trail Design

With the assistance and direction of DSC Biology Professor John Lugthart, Whitfield County Senior GIS Technician Mitch Adams, and DSC Head Groundskeeper Lynn Morse, Archway interns Casey Marbutt and Cameron Yates had the opportunity to spend part of their summer improving and expanding the Dalton State College trail system. Currently, water runoff from the existing trail puddles at the trailhead and creates an entrance that is difficult to maneuver. Casey and Cameron developed a redesign that allows water to drain from the site without detracting visitors. In addition, Casey and Cameron used GIS information to flag, map, and measure two new trails on newly-acquired Dalton State College property. Casey and Cameron designed a trailhead map and a new entry kiosk for the trail system. A visual overview of their work can be viewed on the Archway website by clicking here.

Cameron Yates and Casey Marbutt present work that they completed for Dalton State College.

Whitfield County’s Westside Park, Carbondale Business Park, and Rocky Face Trail

Under the direction of Whitfield County Administrator Bob McLeod and Whitfield County Engineer Kent Benson, Archway interns Kent Mallett and Ross Tew spent a significant portion of their summer developing a master plan for Westside Park. The master plan that the interns developed includes a walking trail, picnic pavilions, playgrounds, and a handicap accessible fishing pier with covered pavilions. In addition, the interns located the optimal site on the property for eight tennis/basketball courts, three fields that could be used for football or soccer, four baseball fields, and a Miracle Field. The interns incorporated a trail design into the park’s master plan to make use of steep areas. The master plan created by the interns includes two entrances to the park, complete with signage and planting plans.

Kent Mallett presented the master plan to the Whitfield County Commissioners on Monday, July 26. A Dalton Daily Citizen article describing this presentation and the County Commissioners' reactions can be viewed here.

In addition to working on the Westside Park Master Plan, Ross and Kent spent significant time this summer designing an entrance and planting plan for the new Carbondale Business Park and designing a trail head and historic signage for the Rock Face hiking trail.

Ross Tew and Kent Mallett show off their design for Carbondale Business Park.

Dalton Utilities Streambank Restoration and Rain Garden Projects

UGA Archway intern Andrew Maxey spent his summer working at Dalton Utilities under the direction of Mark Buckner and Don Cope on an important storm water management and streambank restoration project. Specifically, Andrew was charged with developing a plan to restore 75 linear feet of streambank alongside Drowning Bear Creek. Without intervention, continuing erosion threatens significant damage to property in the floodplain, sewer lines located eight feet from the bank, and the environment. To solve this problem, Andrew developed a sophisticated plan that involved the implementation of a live gabion rock wall along the stream bank. A presentation describing Andrew’s plan is located here.

In addition to the streambank restoration project, Andrew assisted Dalton Utilities by conducting dry weather screening and developing a rain garden design in front of the Dalton Utilities building. Both projects are described in the presentation referenced above.

Andrew Maxey and Mark Buckner presenting their work on a streambank restoration project.

City of Dalton Linear Park Design & Crown Mill Village Concepts

Under the direction of the Dalton City Manager Ty Ross and City/County Planner Kevin Herritt, Casey Marbutt and Cameron Yates spent the majority of their summer developing design options for a linear park system in Downtown Dalton and the Crown Mill Village.

As part of their work, the interns developed two proposals for an urban park located on Crawford Street and an illustrative plan for a large urban park featuring the Manly Jail Works building. The interns also developed three proposals for turning the Crown Mill Village area into a culture and arts district, which they presented to the public for feedback on July 10. Following this presentation, the interns developed a fourth proposal incorporating the comments of community members.

Casey and Cameron’s designs can be viewed by clicking here.

Casey Marbutt and Cameron Yates discuss one of their designs with community member Dan Clark.

Archway Partnership Brings University of Georgia Students to Dalton-Whitfield for the Summer

Six University of Georgia students have joined the Dalton Whitfield community for the summer to undertake community projects identified by the Archway Partnership Executive Committee.

Barrett Beck, a rising senior majoring in Recreation and Leisure Studies, will spend his summer working with the Dalton Parks and Recreation Department. In this capacity, he will assist the Recreation Department in planning and conducting its summer programming, solving transportation issues, and working on finance issues. In addition, Beck will work with Tom Pinson, Director of the Dalton-Whitfield Community Center, in the formation of a mentorship program for local youth.

“Dalton Parks and Recreation is excited to have our first summer intern provided by the Archway Partnership. Barrett has jumped into the job with both feet and is already making a difference. His experiences this summer will give him a taste of what it takes to run a successful recreation department,” Pinson said.

Five rising seniors in the University of Georgia’s Landscape Architecture program will be assisting the City of Dalton, Whitfield County, Dalton Utilities, and Dalton State College on a number of projects over the summer. These students include Andrew Maxey, Casey Marbutt, Cameron Yates, Kent Mallett, and Ross Tew.

“The interns will aid Dalton State in designing signs and interpretive displays for the recently completed campus hiking trail and in continuing the development of additional hiking trails for our students and the community,” said Dr. John Lugthart, Dalton State College Professor of Biology.

“We are delighted to have the Environment and Design students on campus. This is another opportunity for institutions within the University System of Georgia to work together,” added Dr. John Schwenn, President of Dalton State College and Archway Partnership Executive Committee Co-Chair.

In addition to design work for the trails at Dalton State College, the interns will assist the City of Dalton in designing parks, developing a master plan of the Crown Mill Village, locating the City’s proposed Greenway and trailhead, and locating biking and hiking trails on Mt. Rachel.

“Dalton has traditionally struggled to attract young people and these CED students are going to bring fresh eyes and practical know-how to that problem,” said Ty Ross, City Administrator.

The interns will also be working with Whitfield County to design projects for the Whitfield County Commerce Park, the Whitfield County Westside Park, and the Whitfield County Rocky Face Trail.

 “Whitfield County is looking forward to having the interns focus on top priority projects. The quality of their school portfolios points towards high expectations and the fresh ideas they can bring to project development,” said Bob McLeod, Whitfield County Administrator.

Finally, the interns will be assisting Dalton Utilities on a stream bank restoration project under the supervision of Mark Buckner, Vice President of Water and Wastewater Operations.

"Dalton Utilities is proud to present our Archway Partnership summer intern with a valuable learning experience relating to the design and permitting processes associated with a stream bank restoration project and we look forward to the successful completion of this important project. The project will serve as a lasting memory for the student and our citizens will benefit from the improved water quality derived from this project," Buckner said.

The six interns will be joined later in the summer by University of Georgia photography students who will photograph notable sites and activities in the community. All student projects will be completed by the end of July.

From left to right:  Cameron Yates, Ross Tew, Casey Marbutt, Kent Mallett, Andrew Maxey, and Barrett Beck

Survey Results Show Dalton-Whitfield in Line with Southern Region in Desire to Support Existing Industries While Creating New Economic Strengths

On February 26, 2010, more than 30 community members participated in a conversation about how the Dalton-Whitfield community is responding to current economic challenges. This discussion was launched in response to a request by the Southern Growth Policies Board (SGPB), a non-partisan public policy think tank supported by the 13 Southern states – Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. Specifically, SGPB asked communities throughout the region to respond to the following three strategies for dealing with the current economic downturn: (1) wait it out; (2) build on existing businesses and strengths; and (3) create new strengths related to up-and-coming industries.

Based on post-forum survey results, participants unanimously agreed that Dalton-Whitfield should not wait out the current economic downturn. Instead, the majority of survey respondents concurred that Dalton-Whitfield should focus on growing existing businesses and strengths. Moreover, almost all survey respondents strongly agreed that Dalton-Whitfield should create new strengths related to up and coming industries.

Survey respondents believed that the following three actions are most important in terms of preparing for the future of the community:

• Revamping workforce training programs to prepare workers for jobs in up and coming industries such as green business and health care;
• Reducing regulations that hamper new business development; and
• Helping existing local businesses increase their markets by providing export development programs, e-commerce training, and other support services.

Other actions that many respondents agreed were important include:

• Building partnerships with other organizations and neighboring communities; and
• Providing entrepreneurial training and support to encourage new business formations.

Although SGPB has not yet released an official report on this topic, Ted Abernathy, Executive Director of SGPB, reports in his article titled Structural, Spatial, and Individual Challenges of Economic Recovery that over three quarters of SGPB survey participants agree that their communities must try new things in response to the current economic downturn. Abernathy’s article also seems to indicate that other communities, like Dalton-Whitfield, intend to bolster their existing industries as they build new strengths. As communities throughout the South navigate the tensions inherent in this “build and bolster” approach, community dialogue and appreciation for the factors impacting the economic well-being of all community participants will have increasing value.

If you would like more information on the SGPB forum that was held in Dalton-Whitfield, please contact me at mdlu@uga.edu. As always, feel free to comment on this issue below.

Young Professionals of Northwest Georgia Launch Facebook Page, Events

On April 14, motivated members of the Dalton-Whitfield 2010 Emerging Leaders Class met for lunch to discuss how the Dalton/Whitfield community can attract and retain young professionals. During their discussion, the group revisited a list created during their most recent Emerging Leaders session detailing things they like about Dalton, things they would like to see in Dalton’s future, and ways they can make their dreams a reality for the community.

Across the board, the group agreed that the community needs a neutral group for young professionals that promotes social networking and connects people with existing organizations and opportunities. The group agreed not to create a formal framework at this time. Instead, they decided to focus on hosting and publicizing a few fun social events over the summer. In September, the class and other interested young professionals will regroup and discuss how the organization might evolve.

LaRuthie Holder, an Emerging Leader and a Senior Project Engineer for Shaw Industries, spearheaded the group’s efforts by creating a Facebook page titled “Young Professionals of Northwest Georgia.” The group will use the Facebook page to showcase and advertise social activities and other events occurring in the community.

If you would like to be involved with this group or would like additional information about their efforts, please leave a note in the comment section of this blog, join the Young Professionals’ Facebook page, or email Melissa Lu at mdlu@uga.edu.

Call for Community Visioning Documents

Does your organization have a strategic plan or a visioning document that assesses community needs or plans for the community's future?  If so, the Dalton-Whitfield Archway Partnership is interested in reviewing it and including it in the community-wide vision slated to roll out in Fall 2010.  Feel free to leave a web address to any relevant documents in the comment section of this blog entry.  Alternatively, you can email your document directly to Melissa Lu at mdlu@uga.edu.  

Thanks for your help!

Top 5 Priorities Selected for Dalton-Whitfield Archway Partnership

Last fall, nearly 300 Dalton-Whitfield community members assembled at the Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center to take part in a Listening Session hosted by the University of Georgia’s Archway Partnership. At the Listening Session, participants discussed the Dalton-Whitfield community and the opportunities and challenges it currently faces. The comments from the Listening Session were recorded in the Dalton-Whitfield Listening Session Report.

Following the Listening Session, members of the Dalton-Whitfield Archway Executive Committee analyzed the report, consulted with community members about issues in the report, and discussed the best ways to address the significant community needs identified during the Listening Session. Based on their investigation and analysis, the Executive Committee identified the following five initial priorities for the Dalton-Whitfield Archway Partnership:

1. Develop a Community Vision: Over the next several months, the Executive Committee will work with trained facilitators from the University System of Georgia to understand what community members want Dalton-Whitfield to look like in 10-15 years. After soliciting community feedback and analyzing existing visioning documents, the Executive Committee will create a document that highlights shared community goals and includes a detailed implementation plan. The Executive Committee will then incorporate this vision into its work plan and will work with other entities and organizations to make the vision a reality.
2. Enhance Internal and External Public Awareness of Dalton-Whitfield: The Listening Session Report indicates that many misperceptions negatively impact citizens’ and visitors’ experiences in the Dalton-Whitfield community. Accordingly, the second priority articulated by the Archway Executive Committee is the need for a public awareness campaign that enables the community to capitalize on its strengths and improve upon its weaknesses. University of Georgia students and faculty are currently creating a repository of relevant and current data about Dalton-Whitfield. This information will be used to help the community better understand itself so it can move forward cohesively.
3. Support and Enhance Education: A community cannot develop if it ignores education. The Archway Executive Committee is committed to supporting and enhancing education at all levels: pre-K through adult education. Check back soon for more information on this priority and ways to get involved.
4. Improve Quality of Life/Place: The Archway Executive Committee is dedicated to improving the quality of life in Dalton-Whitfield. Check back soon for more details on this priority.
5. Plan for Growth: Planning for growth can mean many things, including attracting and retaining young professionals, recommending and supporting infrastructure improvements, and ensuring that citizens have basic resources. The goal of this priority is to ensure that Dalton-Whitfield is ready for future opportunities. Check back soon for more details.

As you review the 5 priorities listed above, the Executive Committee hopes that it is clear that they are a work -in -progress.  The Executive Committee is currently working to further define and describe the community priority areas, but it needs your input.  In the future, this blog will be a place where you can weigh in on community issues.  Please use it to post your comments and share your thoughts.  Of course, you are always welcome to send  comments to any of the Executive Committee members or to your local Archway Professional.

We look forward to hearing from you soon!