Emily Franze has never been one for waiting around. Always on a mission to promote community awareness of Rutledge Park, this summer she took her enthusiasm and go get’em attitude to the streets. Her idea, which she refers to as “bird brained”, turned out to be downright genius! Emily delivered hand-built birdhouses to local businesses and asked them to be painted into miniature storefronts. The response was overwhelming! The result is a precious birdhouse village representing 23 local businesses and is currently on display in Rutledge Park. Soon, the birdhouse village will become a traveling art installation and will be displayed at different locations around Emory Village – First stop is Yogli Mogli.

Visit the Rutledge Park website for more photos of the birdhouse village: www.rutledgepark.org

In keeping with the bird theme, The Friends of Rutledge Park will be hosting a “Backyard Birding Adventure” on Saturday, November 2 at 4pm. Jamie Hawk, former executive director of the Atlanta Audubon Society and neighborhood bird expert/enthusiast, will spend the afternoon with neighbors discovering the wide variety of bird species living in our own backyards. Bring your binoculars! Afterwards, families can decorate their own miniature birdhouses to take home. All materials and paints will be provided.

Emily Franze and The Friends of Rutledge Park would like to extend a special thank you to all the individuals and businesses that have participated in the birdhouse village project:

All Fired Up
Alliance to Improve Emory Village
Bad Dog Taqueria
Doc Chey’s
The Emory Art History Department
Fernbank Elementary School
The Glenn School
Ink & Elm
King of Pops
Purple Corkscrew
Railroad Earth
Rise-n-Dine
Romeo’s New York Pizza
Saba
Sherwin Williams Paint (Sage Hill)
Shield’s Meat Market
Slice & Pint
Starbucks
Trader Joe’s (Midtown)
Winship Cancer Institute
Yogli Mogli Frozen Yogurt
You’re a Hanger
Zoës Kitchen

And a big thank you to Dan MacFarlane, Mark Goldman, Alan Miller, and Steve Kamin for helping with the assembly of the birdhouses.

Look for more birdhouses coming soon from Druid Hills residents Shane McIntosh of Ocean Catering Company and Jason Hill of Wisteria and Folk Art restaurants located in Inman Park, as well as Boy Scout Troop 18 and artist Bob Ichter based in Little 5 Points.

Click the link below to see more photos.

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Dear Friends and Supporters of Rutledge Park,

Paul Daily, Eagle Scout of Troop 18, has recently completed his Eagle Scout project which consisted of building a staircase from the upper to lower terrace at the north end of Rutledge Park.  This project was originally conceived as a “restoration” of the existing stair at that location, a key presumption of which was that there was material in place which would be available once the existing stair was excavated and the material uncovered.  Paul (and members and parents of Troup 18) excavated the stair and did their best to use the existing material to rebuild the stair, but it was apparent that there was not enough material (nor sufficiently stable material) available to successfully place a safe and complete staircase.  So, after consultation and re-engineering, Paul and his support group removed much of what had been placed and built a beautiful and very stable new staircase.

I note that this project ended up being far more labor and material intensive than any of us originally contemplated.  I will also note that Paul was extremely dedicated to properly completing the project and displayed exemplary patience and discipline in realizing that the first version, which involved considerable effort and some purchased material, was not going to be acceptable.  No whining or complaining, he came up with a new plan, tore out the existing work and placed the new staircase (very capably).  As a result, Rutledge Park has its first real infrastructure improvement – which will be a terrific benefit to all who use the park. Had this work been part of the park hardscape scope (and which would have been needed) the cost would have been considerable.  As it was, Paul had to spend over $500 in materials alone.  One of the components of the Eagle Scout project is a fundraising component, and Paul is now attempting to fund raise to cover the costs of the work.  I invite all Executive Committee members, as well as all community members interested in the park, to join me in contributing to Paul’s fund. You can contact him directly should you choose to, plus Paul plans on doing some door to door solicitation to follow up.

Paul’s email address is: prdaily1307@yahoo.com.

I extend a hearty congratulations to Paul and his team for a job very well done, and commend him on a terrific can-do attitude.  In addition, I am very pleased with the improvement that he has provided for Rutledge Park.  I am grateful  for it, and proud of Paul’s work.

Sincerely,

Tim Ralston

Chairman/Project Manager

Friends of Rutledge Park