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LOCAL
THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17 - 23, 2019 • Page 7
STONECREST
Browns Mill Recreation Center received extensive renovations. Photos by Carla Parker
Stonecrest officials held a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the reopening of the renovated Browns Mill
Recreation Center.
Stonecrest reopens Browns Mill Recreation Center
BY CARLA PARKER
Carla@dekalbchamp.com
Browns Mill Recreation Center
is back in operation following the
completion of a renovation project.
Stonecrest elected officials held
a ribbon cutting ceremony Oct. 12
to celebrate the reopening of the
renovated rec center, which is now
branded with Stonecrest’s city logo.
In August, Stonecrest City Council
approved an intergovernmental
agreement (IGA) with DeKalb
County to transfer the operation of
eight park properties in Stonecrest,
including the rec center, from the
county to the city.
The city also announced that it
had begun managing renovations
at rec center. The center received
a new heating and air conditioning
unit and upgrades to two existing
units, plumbing and sewer upgrades,
roof repairs, upgrades to the fire
suppressant system, installation of
fire safety lights and repairs of two
water fountains.
The center also received new
landscaping and the city’s seal was
placed at the center of the basketball
court.
Parks and Recreation Director
Sean DePalma said a lot of work
went into renovating the center.
“People know Browns Mill
as the heart of the community,
especially on this side of the city,
and we came in and brought love to
this heart,” he said. “We still need
to put more love into it. It’s going
to be a work in progress, but today
is the start of it being home and the
heart of this community again.”
DePalma said the city partnered
with The YMCA to bring after
school programs back to the center.
The center is also to be licensed by
Georgia as a childcare and youth
care facility.
Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary
said the city took a building that
was in disarray and turned it into a
jewel.
“I’ve coached at Browns Mill
rec center for at least 25 years. I
brought my kids up through the
Browns Mill system. I played
here myself before I got too old
and we’ve had meetings here,” he
said. “I’m really moved today over
watching the progress that we are
making in the city of Stonecrest.”
BROOKHAVEN
Emory breaks ground in Executive Park
BY TAYLOR ROBINS
Taylor@dekalbchamp.com
Emory Healthcare Oct. 4 celebrated
the groundbreaking of its new Emory
Musculoskeletal Institute in Brookhaven.
“From the location choice to
architecture design to staffing, the formation
of the Emory Musculoskeletal Institute
directly aligns with Emory Healthcare’s
mission to serve humanity by improving
health through integration of education,
discovery and health care delivery,” said
Emory Healthcare CEO institute Jonathan
S. Lewin. “We look forward to seeing the
positive impact this facility will have on our
local community for generations to come.”
Musculoskeletal concerns both the
muscles and the bones.
The construction of the 180,000-square-
foot institute is scheduled to be completed
in 2021. The building will be part of
the Emory Sports Medicine Complex in
Executive Park.
According to Emory Healthcare,
the will be a comprehensive, patient
and family-centered facility providing
orthopedics and spine care, physical
therapy, imaging, ambulatory surgery, with
clinical and discovery research support
space.
“Emory Healthcare’s musculoskeletal
service line has been expanding for many
years. This is reflected in our growing reach
around the metro Atlanta area. The new
Emory Musculoskeletal Institute will serve
as our central location and house multiple
centers of excellence and programs,” said
Scott D. Boden, professor and chair of
the department of Orthopedics in Emory
University School of Medicine. “Research
is also a core part of our mission, and the
design of this building will encompass that
from its external appearance to the structure
of patient and staff flow inside.”
The building is described as eco-
friendly by Emory Healthcare officials.
“More than 95 percent of storm water and
runoff water will be contained through
a system of bio-swales, retention ponds
and underground storm water systems
to enhance on-site water management.
Strategic lighting of the facility aims to
reduce light pollution and help Emory
be a good neighbor to the surrounding
community. Smart building technology
lowers energy consumption through a
network of sensors to help deliver power
only where it is needed. The overall
construction project seeks to divert most of
its waste from local landfills, thus reducing
its carbon footprint.”
Exterior rendering of Emory Healthcare’s Musculoskeletal Institute.
Interior rendering of Emory Healthcare’s Musculoskeletal Institute. Photos provided
by Emory Healthcare.
