Community Corner

Garden Hills Gala Raises Funds for City Pool House

The Garden Hills Pool & Park Association operates the Garden Hills Pool and pool house for the city of Atlanta, but its deteriorating condition requires a replacement building.

Only 47 tickets are left this morning for the Garden Hills Gala – A Taste of Garden Hills, being held at the Atlanta International School Saturday at 7 p.m.

The gala, sponsored by the Garden Hills Neighborhood Foundation will help fund the new Dan Martin Garden Hills Pool House. Come for the live music, an open bar and food from local restaurants. Bid on silent auction items. Leave knowing you helped raise tens of thousands of dollars to fund the pool house.

Auction Items Include:

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  • Castel Rinaldi, Umbria Italy Vacation Home
  • Disney Vacation Getaway
  • “Lucia” Painting by Nancy C. Westfall
  • Oceanfront Condo Kiawah Island Vacation
  • 3 Course Dinner from Chef Joel Saxon in your home

The old pool house was built in the 1970s, and needed renovations or to be replaced. When ADA requirements were factored into the cost of an upgrade, it made more sense to tear down the old and build a new building.

The city of Atlanta had no money for construction, so the Garden Hills neighborhood took on the $830,000 project.

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As a city park, it serves the entire city.

The facility was built in the 70's and needed to be upgraded or replaced.  It made more sense to start over when ada was factored into the equation.

"There are only three outdoor pools in Atlanta north of downtown: Piedmont, Chastain and Garden Hills, so it is in high demand," said Jeff Clark, Garden Hills Pool and Park Association president.  "We expect demand for memberships to be high.  We have sold out the past two years, but only sell a limited number to make sure the facility is not too crowded."

A limited number of memberships are sold for after-hours swim access. During regular hours all are welcome. More than half of those memberships are from outside the immediate Zip Code, showing just how wide an area the pool serves.

The Garden Hills Neighborhood Foundation is coordinating the fundraising and is using Barabara Howell & Associations, a professional fundraising team.

The Garden Hills Pool & Park Association maintains the facility for the city and is coordinating construction. The project costs turned out to be higher than the initial $750,000 budget in 2011. So far, $665,000 has been raised. Foundation members hope the gala will raise another $50,000-$60,000.

The Garden Hills Pool House project will continue to need financial support. As a 501c3 organization, donations are tax deductible. Bridge financing is available to complete construction, but they want to raise the entire amount needed before the building opens in April 2014. Naming rights still are available on several components of the new building.


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