Go-Green Give-Back St. Pats Morning at Briarlake Forest Park

Hope you can plan to "Go Green" on St. Patrick's Day morning by giving back to the environment with us in this new DeKalb County park.  We'll be pitching in with other "Friends of Briarlake Forest" volunteers to help improve the park and its hiking trails by removing invasive vegetation, spreading mulch and working on signage.  The park's 20+ acres of heavily forested old homestead property boasts numerous gigantic Oaks and Beeches, some thought to be perhaps 200 years old (as in the above photo). On previous work days we've already removed much of the overgrown English ivy, privet, etc. but there's always much more that needs to be done.   We'll greet one another and check in with our friendly hosts at 9:30 AM on the porch of the old farmhouse beside the free parking area.  (See Directions, GPS address, etc. below.)  No previous experience is necessary and tools, loaner work gloves, expert supervision, etc. will be provided - also complimentary snacks & beverages.  The forecast expects comfortable dry weather with temperatures in the 60s by lunchtime.  No problem if you need to "split" earlier than our target quitting time of 12:30 pm.

OPTIONAL AOC HIKE after PROJECT:    If any of you are interested, we can enjoy a 20- to 30-minute hike through the beautiful park just after our volunteer work.

FEEL FREE to pitch in regularly as a "FRIEND of BRIARLAKE FOREST PARK"! The network of hiking trails has been built since 2012 by our neighborhood volunteers and continue to be maintained by our "Friends" group - click the links below for details.   A group work session is normally scheduled for the Third Saturday morning of each month, beginning at 9:30 AM.  To add yourself to our email roster first click this main Park website:  https://www.briarlakeforestpark.com/

FOR more BRIARLAKE FOREST photos & info click:
http://briarlakecommunityforest.org/
https://www.briarlakeforestpark.com/information-about-the-park.html

OUR "MEETUP SPOT" for this event is BRIARLAKE FOREST's old farmhouse at 3330 Briarlake Road.
  For a zoomable map & satellite view of this meetup spot click the Blue & Green "LOCATION" icon near the top of this article.  If you use GPS or Maps.Google.com you can  augment my verbal Directions below by entering as your Destination Address the following concise Lat/Lon coordinates:  33.8437,-84.2711

EASY DIRECTIONS from I-85 EXIT #93, "SHALLOWFORD RD" (This I-85 exit is inside I-285, about 2 miles toward downtown from the huge I-85/ 285 "Spaghetti Jcn" interchange in NE metro Atlanta.)
1.  From I-85 Exit #93 take Shallowford Rd eastward about 1 mile to its end at the Briarcliff Road traffic light.
2.  Turn Right onto Briarcliff Rd and go 0.4 mile to the first traffic light at Briarlake Rd.
3.  Turn Left onto Briarlake Rd, go 0.8 mile and look for the old farmhouse in a big shady clearing on your right . (It's about a quarter mile past the woods at the corner of Briarlake Rd & Amberwood Drive.)  Park in the designated areas.  We'll meet and check in with our host friends on the porch of the old house.

ALTERNATE ROUTE for "East-Siders" from the I-285 LaVista Rd Exit:
- If you live on the East or SE side of Atlanta I suggest this easy alternate route:
1. From the I-285 "LaVista" exit (Exit #37 near Northlake Mall) take LaVista Road westward (toward Atlanta) about 1.5 mile to the traffic light at Briarlake Road.  (Note the elementary school on the far side of this corner.)
2. Turn Right onto Briarlake Road, go just 0.4 mile  (northward) and look for the old farmhouse in a big shady clearing on your left (just beyond the corner of Briarlake Rd & Blackwood Drive). Park in the designated areas.    We'll meet and check in with our host friends on the porch of the old house.

Free Event with Free Parking!