Atlanta Renovates Local Park and Recreation Areas

Atlanta is home to over 343 parks, gardens, preserves and green spaces. Over the last few years, the city has worked to help make many of those local parks more desirable, attractive and safe, and it will continue to do so in 2015. Here is a look at just a few of its recent major projects.

1. John Howell Memorial Park

Located in Atlanta’s popular Virginia Highland neighborhood, just across from Inman Middle School, John Howell Memorial Park began undergoing renovation in 2012 and that continued into 2014. The 2.8-acre park received granite sitting walls, as well as replacements for its rusted chain-link fencing.  The walls will serve as a partition between the park’s volleyball courts and playground, as well as a seating area and a barrier for the sewer system. The park also received new landscaping and some other minor changes to improve the space.

2. Atlanta Memorial Park

In May 2014, Atlanta announced millions of dollars of changes to come to Atlanta Memorial Park, the city’s third largest park. Located in Buckhead, the park’s conservancy director is working to raise money so it can partner with the city on projects like restoration of tree canopies and connecting the park to the neighborhoods that surround it. Plans also involve redesigning the Bobby Jones Golf Course that is part of the property and fixing storm water drainage issues.

3. Atlanta Beltline

The idea for the Atlanta BeltLine Project materialized in 1999 when a Georgia Tech student thought it up for his graduate thesis. It took nearly a decade, but by 2008, the first trail opened, and ever since, the project continues to grow. The former railway corridor turned multi-use trail received an $18 million federal grant in 2013. When completed, it will cover 1,300 acres of green space. In August 2014, Mayor Kasim Reed attended the opening of the Eastside Trail Gateway, which connects the Historic Old Fourth Ward Park to the Beltline. The project will ultimately expand three existing Atlanta parks, as well as create six new parks, including the proposed Westside Park, which is about 351 acres.

4. Atlanta Botanical Garden

The 30-acre Atlanta Botanical Garden is located right next to Atlanta’s famed Piedmont Park, and it is a local favorite attraction. It has been undergoing renovation since 2006 and will continue to expand through 2017. One major change is the addition of a new restaurant headed up by local chef Linton Hopkins that will sit inside a two-story glass structure. The Garden’s old café will turn into administrative offices. There are also plans to renovate the Children’s Garden, as well as create Skyline Gardens.
If you are interested in finding a home near one of Atlanta’s beautiful parks and green spaces, contact Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty at 404.237.5000.