Murphey Candler Park is a cherished greenspace in Brookhaven, GA, known for its scenic lakefront and recreational offerings. However, aging infrastructure and rising visitor demand signaled a clear need for strategic reinvestment. In response, the City launched a comprehensive revitalization effort designed to enrich the visitor experience and safeguard the park’s natural beauty.
Photographer: Scott Wang Photography
Client
City of Brookhaven
Location
Brookhaven, Georgia
Total Project Cost
$12 M
Completed
2024
Size
120 acres
Services
Landscape Architecture, Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering
CPL led this initiative, bringing together in-house landscape architecture expertise with meaningful public engagement. Visioning sessions with residents and local leaders informed key priorities, from protecting the park’s mature tree canopy to minimizing ecological impact and improving accessibility.
At the heart of the transformation, an outdated playground was reimagined as a woodland retreat—an inviting space that sparks exploration and imagination. Rather than adding standard equipment or artificial surfacing, the design embraced the park’s topography for a more organic experience.
Nature-inspired play structures were carefully embedded into the sloped terrain beneath the trees, providing an immersive space for all ages. The adjacent loop road was reconstructed using Full-Depth Reclamation (FDR), an eco-friendly method that recycles existing materials for greater resiliency.
Nearby, a new Community Green invites visitors to gather for performances and relaxation. Envisioned as an amphitheater, the space features terraced, open lawn seating and a small stage—all nestled within the tree line to maintain cohesiveness.
Updates to the lakefront trail and dam elevate both functionality and environmental stewardship. A widened 10-foot multi-use path now welcomes walkers and cyclists, while new fishing docks and backless benches serve as peaceful spots to pause and take in the view. Dam modifications were engineered to meet regulatory standards while preserving the surrounding habitat.
To further shield the ecosystem, a gravel trail network was introduced. Unlike paved paths, gravel allows for greater water permeability, reducing runoff and promoting natural drainage. This design choice helps combat soil compaction—a common issue in high-traffic green spaces—by dispersing foot traffic and minimizing disruption to the underlying soil structure.
Two custom pedestrian bridges span the park’s waterways, guiding visitors along Nancy Creek, and parking capacity was doubled and upgraded with permeable surfaces, bioretention areas and canopy shading that mitigate runoff and heat buildup.
From tranquil lake vistas to designated activity zones, the renewed Murphey Candler Park now stands as a more inclusive destination—one that reflects the community’s values and sets a new benchmark for people-first, eco-conscious design.
