Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Enviro Psst — Historic Fourth Ward Park, the newest Beltline greenspace, opens
Posted by Thomas Wheatley @thomaswheatley on Tue, Feb 22, 2011 at 3:15 PM
We say "opened" because officials with Atlanta Beltline Inc., the nonprofit organization tasked with planning and developing the project, haven't formally announced the park's free to explore. A Beltline spokesman a grand opening is being planned for later this spring to coincide with the unveiling of H4WP's remaining 17 acres. But in the meantime, you're welcome to visit.
What you'll find if you mosey that way: The centerpiece stormwater retention pond surrounded by tall granite walls, a 350-seat natural amphitheatre, and chairs carved from stones by local artist Maria Artemis, among other interesting features. The park, a joint project between ABI and the city department of watershed management, not only creates a green amenity — it also helps Atlanta meet a federal judge's order to overhaul the city's aging sewer system. (Here's a wonk-tastic, detailed October post by Maria Saporta explaining how the pond's able to do that.)
The public can access the park via Morgan Street, Dallas Street and Edith Street. Rankin Street will be another access point, but it's being paved this week. Wheelchair access to the pond is available at the intersection of Garden Park Drive and Morgan Street. (Here's a Google Maps link to check out the streets.) There currently is no direct access between the greenspace and the Beltline corridor, which is scheduled to soon see construction of a 2.5-mile bike trail connecting DeKalb Avenue and Piedmont Park. Don't be surprised if you encounter work crews ironing out final kinks.
We're locked in a basement where we're typing up Very Serious Articles™, but we hear it's a nice day out. Report back if you visit the park.
Comments (34)
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oh and there may not be "direct access" but it's very possible to scramble up a 20 foot hill to access the beltline from this park.
How quickly will the bums turn this into a biohazardous area with human extrement like they did with Central Park? In a city that traditionally refuses to say no to vagrancy, you really think this park will be enjoyable for very long? Don't kid yourself...
The rest of the "greenspace" will be finished this spring. Check it out
http://www.h4wpc.org/images/master_plan_ph…
The park is amazing! I've been here all day. I love this city and I love this park.
I visited on Saturday. The park is amazing. Can't wait until they finish the green space. It is mostly concrete and water, now.
You can hike up a short hill to get to the Beltline. It was very cool walking over the Ponce and North Avenue bridges. I would encourage everyone to do it!
I'd like to rent a bike from the bike rental place near Piedmont Park and ride the trail. I hear it's about a 10 minute uninterrupted ride.
Go Beltline!
I think the supposed 2.5 mile trail from Piedmont Park to DeKalb Avenue is a farce. They held a "groundbreaking" for it in October, then parked some heavy equipment on the "trail" that's getting tagged more as we speak. This park looks amazing, though.
Isn't Bill Eisenhauer the person we really need to thank for the idea behind this park?
"hike up a short hill"......so are you one of those dudes when someone brings up hiking you say "yeah I hike"?
"fiasco", the 2.5 mile trail from piedmont to dekalb is a reality. i've done it twice in the past 10 days. get off your sofa and check it out yourself.
I hope we're allowed to carry, because when the thugs discover this gem, a lot of people are going to get robbed.
The park is amazing, but man...that is A LOT of canvas for graffiti artist. When the walls do start getting tagged, we need to be diligent about cleaning it up as soon as possible. From what I hear that is one of the only ways to deter them is if their work gets removed quickly.
I hike the trail all the time, Wesley. I'm referring the rumored, supposedly 14-foot-wide hard surface path that's rumored to be built there. Initially they said it would open early this summer. Looks increasingly unlikely we'll be able to smoothly ride this trail before the damn fall. I'm sure there's some beaurocratic hold-up. Boo.
Fiasco, construction was not supposed to start until end of January early Feburary anyway. Yes they are behind, but they have all the equipment up there on the path overlooking the old fourth ward park ready to go.
And as for groundbreaking, they always do that way in advance for some reason. The groundbreaking for the Old Fourth Ward Park was back in 2008 and construction did not begin for a year later. Same with the skatepark.
It's coming, don't worry!
for all you haters w/ the negative comments.. stay out of the park.. and get the f#ck outta my city.
this place is a fantastic addition to our beautiful city.
F.I.L.Atlanta!
JDKNS
I was walking down North Ave last night and noticed the park even has great lighting at night.
Well thera are vandals like myself and then there are artist. It is all in the quality of work.
The thugs and the crime element in the city will just ruin it like they do everything else. I would much rather them clean up the crime before that put up anymore parks transits of farris wheels for that matter. Whats the point of all these things if it not safe to visit or use them?
atlsux, I hope that you always remain scared of black people so that you won't clog up our already congested streets with your truck-nutted van. Go squat in the woods and drink bathtub shine like your knuckle-dragging ancestors and please, please never come to my beautiful city.
I can't believe people are actually complaining about a beautiful new park in atlanta... can we please just be happy it happened at all? of course i'm worried about it being destroyed and infested by the homeless, but at least we have it.
eric pfeifer
As a black person I'm of two minds about this comment. First, there is a thug-ish, rude, obnoxious element that is present in Atlanta (I assume because of its rap music industry) that NONE of us want to be around.
Secondly, "the city too busy to hate" has quite a polarized ITP vs OTP culture that is rooted in race. And whenever there is a certain percentage of blacks in ANY establishment it instantly become "ghetto" to the OTP culture (many of whom actually live ITP).
Bottom line, thugs have certainly NOT ruined everything in Atlanta and a beautiful park is probably not their scene.
"Secondly, "the city too busy to hate" has quite a polarized ITP vs OTP culture that is rooted in race. And whenever there is a certain percentage of blacks in ANY establishment it instantly become "ghetto" to the OTP culture (many of whom actually live ITP).
Bottom line, thugs have certainly NOT ruined everything in Atlanta and a beautiful park is probably not their scene."
Yeah. Some suburban white punk who complains about crime and the 'thug' element in the city is basically just admitting that they're scared of black people. I don't want that kind of person in my city.
Lately: What happens when Atlanta has an ITB v. OTB culture? Won't that make things way more worse?
One thing I love about public parks is that they are egalitarian spaces. All people are allowed, whether they are homeless, convicted felon, elected official, Black, Asian, Gay, or Athiest. Besides the obvious, like good lighting & security presence, the best ways to keep public spaces safe is for law abiding people to go and enjoy them, to pay taxes to support city services, to donate to park conservancies and to volunteer to help preserve and maintain parks. I am profoundly grateful for the effort on the part of everyone who came together to build and design the Fourth Ward Park. Of course it needs time to "green up". But thanks to Maria Artemis, and other talented artists and designers, the bones of this park are elegant and visionary. In addition this park serves to protect the neighborhood from floods because it connects with the sewer system and collects storm water runoff. I'm proud to live ITP, where great things happen despite obstacles and where people are not afraid to congregate together, despite differences.
One thing I love about public parks is that they are egalitarian spaces. All people are allowed, whether they are homeless, convicted felon, elected official, Black, Asian, Gay, or Athiest. Besides the obvious, like good lighting & security presence, the best ways to keep public spaces safe is for law abiding people to go and enjoy them, to pay taxes to support city services, to donate to park conservancies and to volunteer to help preserve and maintain parks. I am profoundly grateful for the effort on the part of everyone who came together to build and design the Fourth Ward Park. Of course it needs time to "green up". But thanks to Maria Artemis, and other talented artists and designers, the bones of this park are elegant and visionary. In addition this park serves to protect the neighborhood from floods because it connects with the sewer system and collects storm water runoff. I'm proud to live ITP, where great things happen despite obstacles and where people are not afraid to congregate together, despite differences.
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