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Piedmont Park Water Worries
Conservancy Spends Big Bucks Searching
Conservancy Spends Big Bucks Searching
By Edward Matthews
Publisher
OUT Atlanta 411
9/17/2008 - 11:40pm
Amidst the recent drought conditions and the
removal of Atlanta Pride Festival, Dogwood
Festival and other Class A events from Piedmont
Park, the Piedmont Park Conservancy recently
made a second attempt to drill a well that would
provide enough water to free the popular green
space from the city’s resources.
The Atlanta Journal Constitution recently reported
that the first well, drilled in June led to a well that generated only 50 gallons of water per minute. But calls by OUT
Atlanta 411 to Middle Georgia Water Systems, who drilled both wells for the park confirmed that the first well is
actually produceing 120 gallons of water per minute.
“A 24 hour pumping test on the first well determined that the well is producing 120 gallons of water per minute,” a
supervisor for Middle Georgia Water Systems, who asked not to be named confirmed. “The second well is only
producing a few gallons per minute,” he said.
The supervisor also denied that Piedmont Park Conservancy paid $50,000 for each well as reported by the AJC. “It
was no where close to that,” he said. “Not even half.”
Darrell Cook, Director of PR and Events for Piedmont Park Conservancy confirmed in an email to OUT Atlanta 411
that the cost of the wells, both of them, was $37,000 and included the drilling and testing.
Middle Georgia Water Systems is currently in the process of conducting a 30 day study of the first well to further
assure the Conservancy of the water supply before additional money is spent on the permanent infrastructure of the
well, according to MGWS.
“We will install a temporary pump that will pump water from the well into the lake, which will answer any longer term
questions the Conservancy might have regarding the amount of water the well produces,” he said.
Inspection of the first well site by OUT Atlanta 411 shows permanent utilities have already been installed.
In an email to OUT Atlanta 411, McCook answered specific questions related to the ongoing water crisis and
inconsistencies. “Monica Thornton, our official spokesperson for Piedmont Park Conservancy said it appears we
might be able to withdraw up to 50 gallons a minute from the first well; however, previous tests are inconsistent so we
are entering a 30-day test period to develop more accuracy and to determine our next steps.”
The Conservancy is working with a number of consultants on the pilot well program including the Office of Parks and
Recreation, to help remove Piedmont Park from the city's potable water supply and to protect the environment of the
park, but the Conservancy could not provide OUT Atlanta 411 with contact information for any of those consultants.
Piedmont Park recently hosted The Atlanta Arts Festival, a Class C event, meaning 19,999 or fewer visitors were
expected, according to event organizers. Read related story here. McCook said he did receive a number of calls from
people who were upset about the Atlanta Arts Festival being allowed in Piedmont Park. “They wanted to know why
that festival was allowed to be held in Piedmont Park,” McCook said. “I advised everyone that was a decision made by
the city.”
Atlanta Pride has put together a committee to scout out possible locations for their 2009 event and is expected to
announce the new venue on or before Oct. 11, National Coming Out Day, according to event organizers. Pride
reportedly lost more than $160,000 in 2008 after having to scramble to find a new venue on short notice. See related
story here.
“We (the Conservancy) have no position one way or the other regarding Class A events returning to the park,”
McCook said. “The Conservancy has been a part of the same conversations as everyone else as our own events
have been impacted by the city's drought restrictions.”
Screen on the Green is a fundraising event for the Conservancy typically held at Piedmont Park, but saw a significant
decrease in attendance after relocating to downtown's Centennial Olympic Park.
Piedmont Park Conservancy is a nonprofit organization, working with the city of Atlanta for the preservation of historic
Piedmont Park. Since 1989, the Conservancy has raised and invested more than $23 million in private funds to
transform the once dilapidated Park into the most visited in green space in Atlanta. In addition to raising funds for
capital improvements throughout the 185-acre park, the Conservancy manages more than 90 percent of the Park’s
daily maintenance care and security. The Conservancy currently has 2,100 active members.
Emails and calls to Atlanta Pride and Dogwood Festivals were not immediately returned.
Should Atlanta Pride and other Class A festivals be allowed to return to Piedmont Park? Comment here.
Publisher
OUT Atlanta 411
9/17/2008 - 11:40pm
Amidst the recent drought conditions and the
removal of Atlanta Pride Festival, Dogwood
Festival and other Class A events from Piedmont
Park, the Piedmont Park Conservancy recently
made a second attempt to drill a well that would
provide enough water to free the popular green
space from the city’s resources.
The Atlanta Journal Constitution recently reported
that the first well, drilled in June led to a well that generated only 50 gallons of water per minute. But calls by OUT
Atlanta 411 to Middle Georgia Water Systems, who drilled both wells for the park confirmed that the first well is
actually produceing 120 gallons of water per minute.
“A 24 hour pumping test on the first well determined that the well is producing 120 gallons of water per minute,” a
supervisor for Middle Georgia Water Systems, who asked not to be named confirmed. “The second well is only
producing a few gallons per minute,” he said.
The supervisor also denied that Piedmont Park Conservancy paid $50,000 for each well as reported by the AJC. “It
was no where close to that,” he said. “Not even half.”
Darrell Cook, Director of PR and Events for Piedmont Park Conservancy confirmed in an email to OUT Atlanta 411
that the cost of the wells, both of them, was $37,000 and included the drilling and testing.
Middle Georgia Water Systems is currently in the process of conducting a 30 day study of the first well to further
assure the Conservancy of the water supply before additional money is spent on the permanent infrastructure of the
well, according to MGWS.
“We will install a temporary pump that will pump water from the well into the lake, which will answer any longer term
questions the Conservancy might have regarding the amount of water the well produces,” he said.
Inspection of the first well site by OUT Atlanta 411 shows permanent utilities have already been installed.
In an email to OUT Atlanta 411, McCook answered specific questions related to the ongoing water crisis and
inconsistencies. “Monica Thornton, our official spokesperson for Piedmont Park Conservancy said it appears we
might be able to withdraw up to 50 gallons a minute from the first well; however, previous tests are inconsistent so we
are entering a 30-day test period to develop more accuracy and to determine our next steps.”
The Conservancy is working with a number of consultants on the pilot well program including the Office of Parks and
Recreation, to help remove Piedmont Park from the city's potable water supply and to protect the environment of the
park, but the Conservancy could not provide OUT Atlanta 411 with contact information for any of those consultants.
Piedmont Park recently hosted The Atlanta Arts Festival, a Class C event, meaning 19,999 or fewer visitors were
expected, according to event organizers. Read related story here. McCook said he did receive a number of calls from
people who were upset about the Atlanta Arts Festival being allowed in Piedmont Park. “They wanted to know why
that festival was allowed to be held in Piedmont Park,” McCook said. “I advised everyone that was a decision made by
the city.”
Atlanta Pride has put together a committee to scout out possible locations for their 2009 event and is expected to
announce the new venue on or before Oct. 11, National Coming Out Day, according to event organizers. Pride
reportedly lost more than $160,000 in 2008 after having to scramble to find a new venue on short notice. See related
story here.
“We (the Conservancy) have no position one way or the other regarding Class A events returning to the park,”
McCook said. “The Conservancy has been a part of the same conversations as everyone else as our own events
have been impacted by the city's drought restrictions.”
Screen on the Green is a fundraising event for the Conservancy typically held at Piedmont Park, but saw a significant
decrease in attendance after relocating to downtown's Centennial Olympic Park.
Piedmont Park Conservancy is a nonprofit organization, working with the city of Atlanta for the preservation of historic
Piedmont Park. Since 1989, the Conservancy has raised and invested more than $23 million in private funds to
transform the once dilapidated Park into the most visited in green space in Atlanta. In addition to raising funds for
capital improvements throughout the 185-acre park, the Conservancy manages more than 90 percent of the Park’s
daily maintenance care and security. The Conservancy currently has 2,100 active members.
Emails and calls to Atlanta Pride and Dogwood Festivals were not immediately returned.
Should Atlanta Pride and other Class A festivals be allowed to return to Piedmont Park? Comment here.
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