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Two people sit around a picnic table while a costumed mosquito ruins their fun

WATCH: Mosquito Control Tips

It's almost peak time for those pesky mosquitos! Watch our PSA on YouTube or on the ACCGov Roku channel and follow a few simple tips to help keep them at bay this summer. Spoiler alert: A key thing you can do is get rid of standing water around your home.
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Families standing around the new playground at Sandy Creek Park

New playground at Sandy Creek Park

Sandy Creek Park's playground near the beach area was completely renovated and recently opened for use, but there's more to it than what you might notice at first glance!

Leisure Services staff, SPLOST staff, and community partners worked hard to ensure there are opportunities for children of all ages and abilities to enjoy the playground. A wide variety of features and amenities were added to it, including:
  • Roller slide that does not create static that can damage cochlear implants.
  • Augmentative and alternative communication adjacent boards for non-verbal communication.
  • Ramps parallel to balance beams for parallel play throughout the playground.
  • Hill with embedded slide for optional play without having to transfer from a mobility device.
  • Ground level spinner adjacent to swings to allow play without requiring transfer from a mobility device.
  • Ample shade over play structures and benches/seating.
  • Signage in Braille and American Sign Language.
  • A “quiet corner” sensory space for winding down away from the playground.
  • Rocking boat feature designed to accommodate people who utilize a mobility device.

The playground also features turf carpet mat throughout, a misting station for cooling off at the entrance of the playground, and a perimeter fence with benches to help guardians keep an eye on their children. 

The project was funded in part by SPLOST 2011 Project 14: Sandy Creek Park Renovation and Project 16: Parks Facilities Improvements.
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Yellow wildflowers growing at Dudley Park

Restore Our River: Phase 2 complete

Sustainability, Leisure Services, and SPLOST teamed up to apply for and received the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Project (GOSP) Grant that funded the Restore Our River: Phase 2 project. In 2019, the Mayor and Commission approved the original Restore our River initiative, setting out to rehabilitate 70 acres of native habitat along the North Oconee River. 

The Phase 2 project provided ecological restoration to Dudley Park while establishing amenities and furthering the preservation of areas designated through the first phase of the project.

Over the past few years, the grant helped to: 

  • Restore native habitat on 80% of the park.
  • Plant 10,000+ native plants while removing invasive ones.
  • Install bat boxes, bluebird boxes, chimney swift towers, and owl boxes.
  • Restore 150 feet of streambank.
  • Install a trash trap.
  • Build restrooms, a pavilion, and a connection to the Firefly Trail.
  • Build two kayak/canoe launches.
  • Build over 3,000 feet of natural surface trails.

Read more about the project at www.accgov.com/green or go visit the amenities for yourself in areas of Dudley Park and along the North Oconee River.
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Bronze plaques for the 2024 inductees to the Athens Music Walk of Fame

Athens Music Walk of Fame 2024 inductees

In continuing recognition of the artists and supporters who have helped make Athens a destination for music fans, the Athens Music Walk of Fame Committee announced the five inductees for 2024 at this year's AthFest Music and Arts Festival:

  • 40 Watt Club
  • Bar-B-Q Killers
  • George Fontaine Sr.
  • John Keane
  • James R. Smith / Voices of Truth

Read more about the Walk of Fame and the 30 artists honored thus far at www.accgov.com/publicart. 
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Mall Area Tax Allocation District Open Houses & Survey text based graphic

Mall Area TAD public input though July 31

ACCGov and the Mall Area Tax Allocation District (TAD) Advisory Committee will host two open houses (Thursday, July 18 and Tuesday, July 23, both from 5:00-7:00 PM at the Extension Office) and an online survey through July 31 for residents to provide input on community improvements in the district, which is centered around Georgia Square Mall and surrounding commercial areas along Atlanta Highway.

Complete the brief survey at www.accgov.com/tads.
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KACCB Litter League logo with photo of someone picking up trash

Join the Litter League

Join Keep Athens-Clarke County Beautiful’s Litter League to strike out litter in Athens this summer! By joining the team, you’ll track valuable litter stats and help eliminate it from our community.

Any individual who tracks litter using the Keep Athens-Clarke County Beautiful + UGA list on the Debris Tracker App or picks up litter and reports their clean-up between now and August 15 is eligible to win prizes.

The annual Litter Index survey helps KACCB target educational efforts and litter programs in Athens-Clarke County. 

Visit www.accgov.com/litterindex for full details and instructions.
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A hand reaching out with a key and a small model house

Short-term rentals (STRs) update

In February, the Mayor and Commission adopted text amendments that established short-term rentals (STRs) as a land use regulated by the ACC Code of Ordinances. This means that short-term rentals must be in compliance with code and registered as either a home occupancy STR or a commercial STR.

Short-term rentals are defined as an accommodation for transient guests where, in exchange for compensation of any type or amount, a residential dwelling unit is rented or otherwise provided for lodging for any period of time less than 31 consecutive days. Such accommodations are usually, but not exclusively, advertised through websites such as Airbnb.com, Booking.com, Hometogo.com, and vrbo.com.

As part of the process, a list of legal non-conforming STRs in operation during September 19, 2022 - September 19, 2023 was posted online and will be reviewed through the end of 2024. Properties on this list, once finalized, will have two years to come into compliance with the code. Other properties would need to come into compliance earlier.

Property owners or residents who want to either begin the use of their property as a short-term rental or continue to make their property available for short-term rental use are required to demonstrate compliance with the ordinance requirements. 

More information and requirements for documentation are noted at www.accgov.com/str. Documents can be submitted to the ACCGov Planning Department for review and verification through an online form or in person.
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A man greeting someone in a doorway with text overlaid

Door to door sales

In order to sell items door-to-door, individuals must get a special sales permit from the Athens-Clarke County Finance Department and pay a fee. The permit must be prominently displayed when soliciting business. 

While engaged in sales, the permit may be revoked if the seller is caught violating any other laws or regulations, not displaying their permit, selling unapproved merchandise, or misrepresenting any information on the permit application. Sellers also cannot sell on properties with 'No Soliciting' signs on them.

Violations can be reported to the Police Department (706-613-3345) or Code Enforcement Division (706-613-3790).
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ACCGov offices change to departments

Speaking of the budget, several ACCGov offices and divisions were reorganized as part of the FY25 Budget beginning July 1 to enhance administration and streamline workflow. 

These six new departments will operate independently, similar to other existing departments, instead of operating as functional divisions and offices of the Manager's Office as they were before.

These changes involve:
  • Budget & Strategic Analysis Department - combining the former Geospatial Information Office and Budget Division of the Finance Department.
  • Capital Projects Department - formerly the SPLOST / TSPLOST Program Management Office.
  • Communications Department - formerly the Public Information Office.
  • Organizational Department Department - formerly the Organizational Development Division.
  • People & Belonging Department - formerly the Inclusion Office.
  • Sustainability Department - formerly the Sustainability Office.
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The ACCGov Mixtape is distributed monthly by the Communications Department, accgov.com/communications, 706-613-3795
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Athens-Clarke County Unified Government | P.O. Box 1868 | Athens, GA 30603
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