Rundown: Parks across Atlanta to benefit from largest grants ever

What do a new disc golf course, pickleball courts, a big repaired treehouse, and tennis courts remade into a skatepark have in common?

They’re all listed as upgrades and improvements bound for parks across Atlanta soon as part of a record-high allotment of grant monies.

Park Pride officials announced this week the largest investment in the nonprofit organization’s 35-year history—$3.9 million—will go toward improving aspects of 37 different parks throughout the City of Atlanta and DeKalb County this year.  

That includes upgrades to natural ITP treasures such as Cascade Springs Nature Preserve (where overlooks will be added near the lovely falls), neighborhood greenspaces such as Perkerson Park in Sylvan Hills (a new playground), and regional attractions such as PATH400 in Buckhead (addition of fitness equipment at Old Ivy Park).  

Park Pride officials say the “landmark year” is being funded through a combination of private and public sources, made possible by the organization’s Parks for All campaign and Atlanta city councilmembers.

Roughly 50 percent of the funds will be directed to park upgrades in historically disinvested communities, officials said.

The organization has managed to more than double its awards in recent years, thanks to increased campaign funding and more commitments from the city council.  

Park Pride’s Grantmaking Program was established two decades ago with support from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation and The Home Depot Foundation, with the City of Atlanta coming on board more recently.

The program “awards funding to community groups seeking to revitalize their neighborhood greenspaces,” Michael Halicki, Park Pride executive director, said in this week’s announcement. “We’re proud to support residents in their efforts to improve and activate their local parks.”

Park Pride details its 2024 grant award recipients as follows, in alphabetical order:

• Wood composite flooring will be added to the Urban Tree House shaped like the United States at Bessie Branham Park.

• Visitors will enjoy a transformed entrance at Blue Heron Nature Preserve, including a new sign and native plants.

• A new pavilion will be built at Brownwood Park with a unique design to allow light into the space.

• Visitors will benefit from an improved amphitheater at Cabbagetown Park, including ADA accessibility, building a permanent stage and managing nearby erosion issues.

• Overlooks will be added to view the falls at Cascade Springs Nature Preserve, along with increased trail infrastructure like steps, benches, and trash cans.

Upgrades to the nature-viewing and hiking experience are set for Cascade Springs Nature Preserve in Southwest Atlanta. Park Pride

• Cedar Park will feature a gazebo and native trees in the open lawn area.

• Dog owners will enjoy a new dog park at Chattahoochee Park, along with a paved parking lot and additional lighting.

• Chosewood Park will feature new playground equipment and a nearby picnic area.

• Friends of Cleopas R. Johnson Park will develop a new vision for the park with a landscape architect.

• A trail behind the recreation center at Coach Charles Rambo, Sr. Park (formerly known as Anderson Park) will be revitalized with steps and a new bridge.

• More play equipment will be added to the recently updated playground at DeKalb Memorial Park.

• East Lake Park will have a new picnic area with tables and a grill near the parking lot off Green Avenue.

• Findley Plaza will undergo a complete re-design of the plaza to be more functionally welcoming.

• Waste receptacles will be placed in Freedom Park to reduce litter in the linear park.

• A skate/wheel park will be constructed at Harper Park on the old tennis court.

• Trail signage will be revamped at Herbert Taylor Park & Daniel Johnson Park and a new bike rack will be installed at the trail entrance on Pasadena Avenue. 

• Howell Park will receive waste receptacles, a drinking fountain, and new play equipment.

• Visitors will enjoy an improved trail at Jennie Drake Park, along with erosion management at the entrance on Oldknow Drive.

• The open field at June Elois Mundy Park will feature additional benches and seating, along with an ADA walkway at the bottom of the ramp leading to the field.

• A picnic area with tables and trash receptacles will be added to Kathryn Johnston Memorial Park, plus new checker/chess tables under the existing shade structure.

• Neighbors will enjoy a new playground at Lang Carson Park.

• An ADA parking lot will be built at Lillian Cooper Shepherd Park, along with furnishings under the new pavilion.

• Little Nancy Creek Park will feature a climbing structure for teens and tweens and additional fitness equipment.

• Melvin Drive Park will feature a disc golf course.

• Mozley Park will feature additional seating throughout the park for an existing grant.

• The Historic Oakland Foundation will use the funds to support landscaping and greenspace maintenance outside of the Visitor Center at Oakland Cemetery, adding to an existing grant.

• Fitness equipment will be added to Old Ivy Park under the Ga. Highway 400 overpass along PATH400.

• Visitors will enjoy a new playground at Perkerson Park.

• Pickleball courts are headed to Phoenix II Park.

• Rose Circle Park will receive a mural on the pathway through the park, a drinking fountain by the basketball court, and a barrier to the playground for protection from street traffic on Rose Circle.

• Sara J. González Park will be made more accessible with an ADA parking area and walkways for all mobilities. A music station to engage all visitors will also be added.

• Stone planting beds for an edible garden will be built at Springbrook Park.

• Springvale Park will extend a stone wall around the pond and add native aquatic vegetation to the bank along the walkway.

• Accessible play equipment and a nearby picnic area will be added to Thomasville Park.

• The Urban Food Forest will replace a retaining wall along Rhinehill Road to support a new Kid Zone as part of an existing grant.

• Upgraded drinking fountains with doggie bowls and new trash receptacles will be placed in West End Park.

• Yonah Park will feature a new trail and native plantings at its southern entrance.

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