#DeKalbParksPics contest winners

See the original story from On Common Ground here. DeKalb names #DeKalbParksPics contest winnersL-R: The winners were first place Clay Fisher, who shot at Arabia Mountain; the second place winner was Al Goggins, who shot at Exchange Park; and the third place winner, Stephanie Gilman, also shot at Arabia Mountain.    

The DeKalb County Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs (RPCA), Discover DeKalb Convention & Visitors Bureau and Southern Airways Express recently announced winners of the #DeKalbParksPics photo contest. 

“This contest gave people an opportunity to perceive parks a little differently, and look for those small things that make a park unique,” said Marvin Billups, RPCA deputy director. “We try to put a lot of that into the planning of a park—we look at what the land will give us, we look at opportunities we can provide, we listen to the community and how much of that we can place.”

Open to amateur and professional photographers alike, the department’s first-ever photo contest focused on increasing awareness of the county’s parks and recreational facilities. The contest began July 2 and ended Aug. 31 with nearly 100 entries for consideration.

Winning photographs, which were selected by staff from DeKalb County RPCA and The Champion Newspaper, will  be featured in The Champion Newspaper, Discover DeKalb Convention & Visitors Bureau publications and DCTV Channel 23.

Prizes were awarded to first, second and third place, which included a free subscription to The Champion Newspaper; two free round-trip airfare tickets with Southern Airways Express for first place; “Friends fly free” certificate with Southern Airways Express, and a free hotel stay provided by Discover DeKalb, for second place; and “Friends fly free” certificate with Southern Airways Express, and four tickets to an Atlanta Silverbacks game provided by Discover DeKalb, for third place.

The winners were first place Clay Fisher, who shot at Arabia Mountain; the second place winner was Al Goggins, who shot at Exchange Park; and the third place winner, Stephanie Gilman, who also shot at Arabia Mountain.   

 “If my photography in some small way can create a greater awareness and appreciation for the diverse parks that reside in our own back yards, then I will feel my work is of true purpose and value,” said Fisher during the awards presentation.