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Contact Us
Piedmont Park Conservancy
P.O. Box 7795
Atlanta, GA 30357-0795
404.875.7275 (PARK)
404.875.0530 fax
info@piedmontpark.org
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Piedmont
Park Conservancy is the nonprofit organization, working with
the City of Atlanta for the preservation of historic Piedmont
Park. Since 1989, the Conservancy has raised and invested
more than $23 million in private funds to transform the once
dilapidated Park into the most visited in green space in
Atlanta. In addition to raising funds for capital improvements
throughout the 185-acre park, the Conservancy manages more
than 90 percent of the Park’s daily maintenance care
and security.
Mission
To enhance and preserve Piedmont Park as a vital urban green
space and as a cultural and recreational resource that enhances
the quality of life for all Atlantans.
Goals
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Improve
accessibility to and within the Park; |
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Restore
and protect the Park’s natural environment
and
historic character; |
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Enhance
conditions for the safe enjoyment of the Park; |
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Provide
education and recreation programs for
Park goers; |
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Host volunteer
activities in the Park. |
History
During the late 1970s and into the 1980s, many great parks
around the country were in despair because cities had neither
the capacity nor resources needed to maintain them adequately.
The same was true for Piedmont Park, where large-scale concerts
and years of overuse nearly ran the Park into the ground.
Then
in 1989, a group of key citizens, along with members of the
business and leadership communities from around the city
formed Piedmont Park Conservancy, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization
dedicated to restoring the Park. In 1992, the Conservancy
signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the City
of Atlanta, establishing a public/private partnership similar
to that of the Central Park Conservancy in New York City.
The
Conservancy has since raised more than $23 million in private
funds for several completed renovations in the historic portion
of the Park, including the restoration of the Active Oval,
Lake Clara Meer and Oak Hill.
Piedmont Park Conservancy this
year announced plans to expand the Park by 53-acres. The
first phase of the $72.5 million expansion, scheduled to
begin later this fall with the renovation of the historic
Bathhouse and pools, will net a 40 percent increase in useable
green space, woodland trails, playgrounds and athletic fields.
Accomplishments
Master Plan Restoration Projects
The Conservancy has raised nearly $20
million in private funds to complete the first half of Master
Plan Restoration. To learn more, click Park Restoration Park
Restoration.
Additional Improvements
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Landscaping
Project: Habersham Gardens Landscape Division
donated plant materials and staff time (valued
at nearly $15,000!) for landscape enhancements
to the Charles Allen entrance of Piedmont Park. Click
here to see before
and after photos of the Charles Allen entryway. For
more information on Habersham Gardens, call 404.873.2484.
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Restroom
Renovations: Renovated the restrooms
located below the Noguchi Playscape and also
installed a new set of restrooms below Magnolia
Hall ($50,000). |
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Increased
Lighting: Installed new historic light
poles round the park ($600,000). |
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Enhanced
Streetscapes: In collaboration with
the Midtown Alliance, 10th Street and Piedmont Avenue
now have improved pedestrian access, wider sidewalks,
street lights, street trees and a pedestrian drop off
lane on Piedmont Avenue. |
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Additional
Green Space & Trees |
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While completing Master
Plan restoration projects, the Conservancy has also
added/restored approximately 67 acres of new grass/sod. |
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Reduced the amount of impervious
surface in the Park by narrowing roadways by 2 to
3 feet and creating green medians along the edge of
roadways.
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Planted more than 600 trees (conservatively
estimated at $300,000) in the last 5 years alone. |
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Invested $300,000 to care for more
than 1,000 mature trees in the Park including pruning,
deep fertilization, insect/disease control and kudzu
removal. |
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Implemented a tree identification
program to better manage and care for Park trees. |
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Planted native plants around the
lake edge including littoral shelves, water-based plants
that provide habitat and food for wildlife. |
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New
Signage/Way-Finding: A new signage
and
way-finding system utilizes obelisks to assist
Park visitors in understanding Park rules, using
way-finding maps and learning about the Parks’ rich
history. By keeping the actual signage low to
the ground, the park view is unimpeded. |
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New
and Refurbished Playgrounds: Added the
Saturn Playground and renovated Noguchi Playscape. |
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Irrigation
System: Installed and maintain
a state of
the art irrigation system that monitors
water usage and can detect problems and shut
down if there is a break in the system. |
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Entryway
Beautification: Added beautiful
gates at
12th and 14th Streets that provide welcoming
entryways into the Park. Additionally, improvements
to the 12th Street entryway ensure that this
major entry point welcomes Park visitors with
gardens and benches and lush green lawn. |
Daily Maintenance & Care
Keeping Piedmont Park clean and beautifully landscaped is
a never-ending job.
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Over the
years, the Conservancy has take on more of the City’s
daily duties, now fulfilling nearly 85% of Piedmont
Park’s maintenance needs. |
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The Conservancy
employs six landscape maintenance workers and contributes
more than $300,000 annually for landscape maintenance
and equipment. |
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The Conservancy
works closely with festival organizers, including the
Atlanta Dogwood Festival, Pride Festival and Peachtree
Road Race, to develop and enforce a set of standards
that help protect Piedmont Park from harm during large-scale
public gatherings and events. |
Increased
Security
The Conservancy funds and manages off-duty police officers
to patrol the Park for added security. In May 2004, the
Conservancy also assumed the management of the City’s
security contract for the Park. Now security personnel actively
patrol the Park instead of just remaining on the bridge.
New Park Amenities
The Conservancy is committed to finding ways to meet the
changing needs of Park users, evident by the following
recent
additions:
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An off-leash
dog park that is sustained entirely by donations and
Conservancy maintenance efforts. The addition of a
dog park required the support of City Council. The
first of its kind in Atlanta, the dog
park is one of the most
popular areas of the Park. |
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Installed
the following: |
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Benches: 69 ($103,000) |
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Swings: 11 ($110,000) |
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Trash cans: 65 ($55,000) |
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Water fountains: 14 ($140,000 has
been allocated to add a total of 28 fountains) |
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Grills: Added 20 fixed grills and
repaired 2 stone BBQ pits ($8,000) |
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Temporary designated volleyball area
in the
Active Oval |
Community
Inclusive Planning/Advisory Committee
The Conservancy follows a community-inclusive process
for gathering input on improvements. An Advisory Committee
comprised of representatives from the park’s many constituencies
is formed to oversee each major planning or restoration initiative.
Children’s Programs
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EnviroVentures Field Trips offer schools and groups a diversity of environmental education programs to enhance your visit to Piedmont Park. |
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EnviroVentures Day Camps are held each Summer, Winter and Spring focusing on environmental education, outdoor activities, and other fun and traditional programming! |
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EnviroVentures Saturdays features learning activities designed around the Park. Held select Saturday mornings, this is a perfect activity for your child when you are visiting the Green Market for Piedmont Park. |
Community Programs
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Green
Market at Piedmont Park: This
unique, open-air market features Georgia-grown
produce, fresh cut flowers, baked goods and herbs,
along with chef demonstrations and live music.
Together with the Bureau of Cultural Affairs,
the Conservancy hosts the Green
Market program every Saturday morning from
9:00am to 1:00pm near the Park’s 12th
Street entrance gate. |
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Park
Tours: Free guided walking tours
offer a fascinating look at the park’s
rich history on Saturdays from 11:00am to
12:30pm (April – October). |
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Senior
Citizens: The Conservancy plans
a variety of activities to encourage older adults
to visit the Park. |
Volunteerism
The Conservancy recruits volunteers to keep Piedmont
Park beautiful through monthly “Clean
& Green” projects.
Documenting
Piedmont Park’s History
The Conservancy consulted with two historians to document
and compile the Park’s rich history. Before this,
the history of the Park was sparse and scattered. The culmination
is a new book entitled “Piedmont Park: Celebrating
Atlanta’s
Common Ground”.
Recent Accolades
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The Georgia
Trust for Historic Preservation, Stewardship Award,
2004 |
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Keep Georgia
Beautiful, Distinguished Service Award for Beautification
and Community Improvement, 2004 |
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Urban Design
Commission Award of Excellence 2004, Clara Meer Bridge
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Project
for Public Spaces, Finalist, Catalyst Award for Urban
Park Leadership 2003 |
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Urban Design
Commission Award of Excellence 2003, Oak Hill |
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“I love walking through the park and
seeing all the different faces of Atlanta. This truly is our common
ground.”
— Teresa, age 49
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