When it comes to meeting Cobb's greenspace needs, We’re Not Done Yet

A More Opinions contribution by Joni House, founding member of the Cobb Parks Coalition, published in the Marietta Daily Journal on Monday, July 7, 2008

The first thing we noticed was the sound. Or lack of sound. With the traffic noise gone, we could hear voices carrying across the pond, a few higher-pitched notes of children's laughter and the beginnings of an insect chorus.

It was 8:30 on a recent Friday night and I had persuaded a friend to come along to see what people "did" with greenspace.

What can I bring he asked. Nothing, I said. It's not wilderness, it's woods. And a pond, and frogs, and a bunch of kids with flashlights, some grownups like us who like burned marshmallows, and a well-known local naturalist with a passion for sharing the secrets of this little slice of heaven.

But what will we do, he insisted. Well, there's not really an agenda, I said. We couldn't have planned to find that Fowler's toad and carry it almost all the way back to the group before it did what toads do in human hands. (Screaming, I let it go). My friend hadn't planned on gallantly finding a replacement toad, popping it safely into a comfortable vented jar, and becoming the hero of several little children who could now get a really close look at the creature. A little boy about 5 took reluctant turns with a slightly older girl carrying the toad along on the group hike around the pond.

And after dark, the chorus of frogs started. We could hear what sounded like a sheep's "baa" from somewhere out on the pond. Miraculous that just after the glowing green eyes of a spider in the trees (flashlights were definitely handy), our guide found on our path a giant specimen of the baaa-ing toad. Amazing that all the moms and dads and children could stop in their tracks long enough for our guide to pick the frog up. Then all of us shined our flashlights on the enormous creature (it was a two-hander, even for the experienced).

"Make it baaa, make it baaa."

And it did. Everyone applauded: grandparents, moms, dads, and even the cranky toddler who was having too much fun to stay asleep on this dad's shoulder.

So we went to the woods on a Friday. For what? Greenspace invites us to just be in it. Funny how there's always plenty to do once you get there. Somewhere between the car and the pond I lost my to-do list and my headache on that Friday. I had a serious conversation about bats with an 8 year old. I enjoyed the company of people who, like me, seemed to arrive tired and leave refreshed. My ears and eyes got a vacation for a while.

Cobb has started a legacy investment to make sure that everyone in this county can have time in the woods. The land purchases under the 2006 greenspace bond were made with vigorous citizen input and careful analysis. The county commission paid serious attention to the citizens' group in giving staff direction and priorities for land purchases. County staff rose to the challenge of executing a daunting new program and diligently pursued the recommended properties.

Chairman Sam Olens took the bold and unusual step of maximizing the transparency of the process by appointing three citizens to monitor the county's negotiations and land purchase progress.

Throughout the entire greenspace land purchase process, the county has demonstrated good stewardship of public funds. They have earned our trust and thanks.

We now have the opportunity to issue another $40 million in greenspace bonds, again with no tax increase. There may be additional land parcels now available that were out of reach or not on the market during the first purchases. There are still parcels from the first land nominations that were highly desirable but could not be purchased due to limited funding.

Most important, there are still areas that need to be preserved to ensure that all Cobb citizens have access to greenspace, both now and in the future.

The bonds won't be issued without a referendum, which is conducted by ballot during the November election. The Board of Commissioners has to vote to put the issue on the ballot. The first step is to contact your commissioner and urge him or her to put the greenspace bond issue on the November ballot. It's a no-brainer that Cobb citizens should be able to vote on whether to buy more greenspace. Let your commissioner know that you agree.

Joni House is president of The Grayfen Group, a management consulting company based in Marietta. She is co-chair of the Friends of Hyde Farm, and served as Vice Chair of the Cobb Parks Bond Citizens Advisory Committee, the group charged with recommending the parcels to be purchased with the 2006 bond monies for greenspace acquisition. She has worked with the Cobb Parks Coalition and is a member of Leadership Cobb Class of 2006.