Avondale Estates commissioners in December approved changing the language posted on the rules markers at Lake Avondale and Willis Park. The commission has now recently rewrote and approved new language, currently displayed on temporary signs at both sites.
The commission specifically focused on eliminating phrasing that stated the parks are “for exclusive use of the residents” and that “violators may be subject to prosecution.”
The new language is pretty basic: leash your dogs and clean up after them, don’t feed the geese and enjoy picnics but no fires and grills. Catch and release fishing is allowed at the lake 7 a.m. until sundown to those with a Georgia fishing license. Active and passive “recreation” is allowed at Willis Park, but no organized sport games or practices.
Many long-time residents who showed up to several commission work sessions in the fall opposed removing the old wording.
“Once we open up that lake,” one resident said during a Dec. 7 session, “we’ll have fishing derbies and all sorts of things.”
“Without the signage,” another said, “it’s a beacon to become a public park, and then you get Happy Meal wrappers, used condoms and drug paraphernalia.”
But the commission saw the language, possibly authored or at least influenced by city founder George Willis in the 1920s, as archaic and uninviting. Permanent signage should be up before spring.
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