RECENT BENCH & PLAQUE DEDICATIONS IN THE PARKS
posted April 26, 2010
One Friday afternoon near the playground on Springdale, a pair of young runners happily turned photographer. The runners were sprinting past a gathering of people clustered around a bench overlooking the park. One stopped the women mid-stride and asked for their help taking a group photograph. They readily said yes, and soon found out the party was celebrating the placing of a plaque with George Ickes’ name on it, just under the bench. When they learned George is responsible for oversight of the park maintenance, the runners were delighted. “I never knew who fixed the park. It’s our favorite place to run, the best in all Atlanta,” one said. The other said simply “the park is just beautiful, all the time.” Photos taken, they waved their thanks to George, his wife Nancy, daughter Allison and son in law and grandchildren, and resumed running east toward Paideia.
It’s a common reaction among park lovers. When they find a face and name to thank for the restoration of the Olmsted Park, they overflow with gratitude. Perhaps the new plaque program will make it easier to give them a name to thank.
Four recent dedications have put plaques under two benches in Dellwood, one in Springdale, and one on a wooden bench in Deepdene. All four name people deeply involved in the restoration of the park. Planning the dedication ceremonies meant bringing together park supporters, family and the OLPA board. At each, the audience heard a few details about the person named in the plaque, and a poem linking them to the park. Judi Shur read a poem by Mary Oliver at Mary Disney’s bench naming. Sally Sears read a poem for Fentress Waits, written by her grandchildren on sabbatical in Mexico. Jennie Richardson wrote and recited a poem for Roland Ingram and for George Ickes.
More parties celebrating the park and its supporters are planned for the near future.
Mary Disney's bench in Deepdene is dedicated by Judi Shur, center, neighbor
and OLPA board member. Listening on the left, Mary's sister and right, her
husband Michael Harney. MARCH 28, 2010
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click images for enlargements |
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Front row: Marguerite Ingram, Sally Sears, Jennie Richardson, Fentress Waits, George Ickes
Rear: Connie Wiemar, Beth Grashof, Kirk Elifson, James Waits, John Hemby |
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| Mary Disney daughters Rebecca Harney, left and Anna Harney, right, flank their father
Michael Harney on the wooden bench dedicated to Mary Disney. |
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