Ormewood Park officially scores first large neighborhood greenspace

City officials have taken a key step toward preserving a versatile intown greenspace near the Atlanta BeltLine loop that pays homage to a legendary longtime resident.

During its monthly meeting Monday, the Atlanta City Council voted unanimously to purchase a 5.3-acre property in the heart of Ormewood Park known as “Red’s Farm,” establishing the first official large city park in the historic eastside neighborhood.

The property in question—alternately called Farmer Red’s Preserve and Urban Farm Ormewood—is tucked between Berne Street and Ormewood Avenue, with the BeltLine’s under-construction Southside Trail a couple of blocks west, and Moreland Avenue to the east.

The Ormewood Park property’s seller was The Conservation Fund, a nonprofit that specializes in banking land for future greenspace and protecting water resources across the U.S.  

District 1 councilmember Jason Winston led efforts to preserve the community hub as a green respite in a growing area, working with family members of the late owner, Brian Charles “Red” Harrison.

According to Winston’s office, the farm has been cherished by surrounding neighborhoods for years, playing host to an annual Easter egg hunt and activities such as dog walking, communing with nature, and blueberry picking that have attracted thousands of visitors.

“With the farm within walking distance from the BeltLine’s Southside Trail and already serving as a hub for bringing the community together,” Winston said in an announcement, “officially taking this step to preserve the farm is key to guaranteeing Atlantans will be able to continue enjoying the space.”

A beloved personality in the neighborhood who supported local farmers, Harrison died of a heart attack in 2022 at age 54. The farm property, situated adjacent to Harrison’s former home, has been called the city’s only remaining working vegetable farm. Harrison’s family had sold the property to The Conservation Fund earlier this year.

The city's purchase price for the acreage was $2.7 million—or roughly $500,000 per acre—according to Axios Atlanta.

According to Winston, the preservation efforts will serve as a “touching memorial” to Harrison’s zest and vision for keeping urban agriculture alive in the city.   

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