Archive for year: 2021
Over 650 Dogs Make a Splash to Support Piedmont Park Dog Parks
On October 2 and 3, dogs and their owners filled the Piedmont Park Pool during the return of the 12th annual Splish Splash Doggie Bash. The Piedmont Park Conservancy hosted this special fundraiser that directly supports the maintenance of Piedmont Park Dog Parks. A great time was had by all as local dog owners and dog lovers gathered together for a weekend of fun to kick off the Fall season!
This event took place at the end of pool season, allowing the dogs to run free and let out all their energy in the Piedmont Park Pool. This made for some amusing photo opportunities and adorable moments between many different kinds of pups! Canine owners also had a great time as they were allowed to take their pets off-leash and witness the doggy party.
Various vendors added to the excitement by giving away free treats, toys and merchandise for participants. Park visitors observed from outside the pool and many took advantage of the walk-up registration. Splish Splash Doggie Bash 2021 was a huge success, registering over 660 dogs and raising over $20,000 for the Piedmont Park Dog Parks.
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The Piedmont Park Conservancy is a member and donor funded nonprofit organization working in partnership with the City of Atlanta to maintain and enhance historic Piedmont Park. Founded in 1989, the Conservancy raises over $3.5 million annually to enhance and maintain the Park. Today, the Conservancy manages over 90% of the overall maintenance and security of Piedmont Park.
Media Contact: Amy Han Risher
Director of Marketing, Communications and Public Relations
Piedmont Park Conservancy
E: [email protected]
P: (404) 480-3758
Dogs were spoiled with pool toys and tennis balls during Piedmont Park Conservancy’s Splish Splash Doggie Bash 2021.
Owners created some lasting memories with pets, while supporting the maintenance of Piedmont Park Dog Parks.
Over 650 dogs of all shapes and sizes were free to play off-leash over a fun-filled weekend.
Piedmont Park Conservancy Launches Safe Haven Fund at Landmark Luncheon
At the Piedmont Park Conservancy’s Landmark Luncheon on September 14, the Conservancy made an inaugural announcement of the Piedmont Park Safe Haven Fund. In response to increased concerns about safety, the fund will allow Piedmont Park Conservancy to financially support safety improvements recommended by the city of Atlanta and other public safety experts.
Themed “Together, We Grow,” Landmark Luncheon celebrated the strength of the Piedmont Park community and the park’s role as Atlanta’s green refuge. A socially-distant meal under individual tents allowed attendees to connect with the Conservancy’s mission while in comfort for their health and safety.
The 2021 Legacy Award Recipient is Penny McPhee for her work with the Arthur M. Blank Foundation. The Piedmont Park Conservancy gives thanks to the luncheon’s presenting sponsor, the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, and reception sponsor, the Coca-Cola Company. The event was hosted by Channel 2’s Lori Wilson.
Landmark Luncheon attendees were the first to be invited to donate to the Safe Haven Fund. The fund was announced to the public on Wednesday, September 15. A generous donor will match all gifts to the Safe Haven Fund from September 15 through September 30, up to $100,000. You may learn more about the fund at piedmontpark.org.
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The Piedmont Park Conservancy is a member and donor funded nonprofit organization working in partnership with the City of Atlanta to maintain and enhance historic Piedmont Park. Founded in 1989, the Conservancy raises over $3.5 million annually to enhance and maintain the Park. Today, the Conservancy manages over 90% of the overall maintenance and security of Piedmont Park.
Media Contact: Amy Han Risher
Director of Marketing, Communications and Public Relations
Piedmont Park Conservancy
E: [email protected]
P: (404) 480-3758
Guests enjoy Piedmont Park Conservancy’s Landmark Luncheon under socially distant, individual tents in beautiful Piedmont Park. CREDIT: DV Photo Video
Penny McPhee was honored with the Piedmont Park Conservancy’s 2021 Legacy Award at this year’s Landmark Luncheon. Pictured (left to right): Piedmont Park Conservancy President and CEO Mark Banta, WSB-TV’s Lori Wilson, and Penny and Ray McPhee. CREDIT: DV Photo Video
Aerial view of Piedmont Park Conservancy’s signature fundraiser, Landmark Luncheon.
Piedmont Park Conservancy Fundraisers Return with Picnic for Piedmont Park
On July 14, over 400 guests came together with their picnic gear in support of the Piedmont Park Conservancy. After almost a year and a half without in-person events, Piedmont Park Conservancy hosted their first outdoor fundraiser in beautiful Piedmont Park. Picnic for Piedmont Park raised $70,000 to support the Conservancy’s mission to preserve and enhance the park, including landscaping, park beautification, offering free guided history tours, hosting a farmer’s market, maintenance of the dog parks and more.
From delicious catered food and craft cocktails to games and music, it was a fun summer evening in the green heart of Atlanta. Families, friends and pets all came together under the clear skies and setting sun to celebrate Piedmont Park.
You can learn more about the Piedmont Park Conservancy at piedmontpark.org. Following Picnic for Piedmont Park is the Conservancy’s annual Landmark Luncheon fundraiser on September 14, 2021. Tickets are now available.
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The Piedmont Park Conservancy is a member and donor funded nonprofit organization working in partnership with the City of Atlanta to maintain and enhance historic Piedmont Park. Founded in 1989, the Conservancy raises over $3.5 million annually to enhance and maintain the Park. Today, the Conservancy manages over 90% of the overall maintenance and security of Piedmont Park.
Media Contact: Amy Han Risher
Director of Marketing, Communications and Public Relations
Piedmont Park Conservancy
E: [email protected]
P: (404) 480-3758
Picnic for Piedmont Park guests enjoying their picnics in the greenery of Piedmont Park.
Guests of Picnic for Piedmont Park had over 200 acres of park space to spread out.
Giant family friendly games created a casual, fun vibe at Picnic for Piedmont Park.
Many furry friends were spotted at Piedmont Park Conservancy’s Picnic for Piedmont Park.
The Piedmont Park Conservancy is Rolling Up Its Sleeves
Now that summer is here, Piedmont Park is busier than ever, and keeping it clean and green for all Atlantans is quite the challenge. As more people are getting vaccinated and feeling safe to come outside, that means more events and more foot traffic, which makes keeping the Park clean that much harder. The Piedmont Park Conservancy’s biggest challenge is to maintain a flourishing landscape despite the unpredictable Georgia weather and the pressing pedestrian litter.
Everyone knows that Piedmont Park is the city of Atlanta’s backyard, where anyone can exercise with their dog, throw a birthday party or pack a picnic date. Who takes care of that backyard? A crew of less than 10 landscapers, engineers and technicians maintain 90% of Piedmont Park’s 200 acres. While they are responsible for cleaning up after us every day, the Piedmont Park Conservancy heavily relies on community participation to keep the greenspace safe, clean and beautiful. Donations and volunteer work are integral to keep the Park operating.
Volunteers and staff are constantly kept busy this summer planting new flowers, renovating park benches and taking care of trees. However, the biggest threat to the landscape, the wildlife and park guests is litter. As guests flood in to enjoy their summer in the Park, they often leave behind litter.
While the Piedmont Park Conservancy works tirelessly with the city to keep up with trash collection and staff address litter in highly trafficked areas, Piedmont Park is depending on the community to act. First, asking Atlanta residents to be mindful by packing trash in and out, doing their best to leave no trace. Then, if you can go a step further, volunteer in the Park, donate and become a keeper of one of Atlanta’s most iconic and beloved greenspaces.
Those interested in supporting the Piedmont Park Conservancy with donations or volunteering can visit piedmontpark.org/support for more information.
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The Piedmont Park Conservancy is a member and donor funded nonprofit organization working in partnership with the City of Atlanta to maintain and enhance historic Piedmont Park. Founded in 1989, the Conservancy raises over $3.5 million annually to enhance and maintain the Park. Today, the Conservancy manages over 90% of the overall maintenance and security of Piedmont Park.
Media Contact: Amy Han Risher
Director of Marketing, Communications and Public Relations
Piedmont Park Conservancy
E: [email protected]
P: (404) 480-3758
Green Market, More Than a Shopping Experience
Nothing beats waking up on a Saturday morning and starting a quest for warm coffee and hot breakfast. Many Atlantans in the Piedmont Park area start their Saturday mornings by heading over to Green Market, the Park’s local farmers market. Motivated by caffeine and an empty stomach, visitors stumble upon more than just a quick bite to eat; they enter a gathering place of neighbors, local and small businesses, and community partners.
Imagine walking through the market, meeting local vendors, learning about not only their goods but their stories. Green Market provides Midtown Atlanta a place where the community can come together and support one another. There is something about buying your bread, produce or coffee from local farmers. You feel better inside and feel inspired to create amazing meals. Yes, you could just drive to the closest grocery store, but there is something about buying straight from the vendor that makes it more fresh and delicious.
Green Market isn’t only just delicious food, it is also home to beauty and home products, plants, you name it.
With a community atmosphere, Green Market is great for families and friends to gather to enjoy fresh air to discover the hidden gems Georgia has to offer. After you shop around the market, take a walk around the 200 + acres of park land and find a place to set up a picnic.
At Green Market, you’re not only supporting local businesses, you’re creating connections with the great community we live in. Learn more about Green Market at: piedmontpark.org/green-market
A Community Space for Atlanta, A Historical Perspective
“During my childhood in the seventies, Piedmont Park was one big everlasting festival. There was the old swimming pool and bathhouse where my brother Bird and I swam in the summer, diving off the platforms and slipping down the giant slides into the water. It was where we learned to play.”
This quote from longtime Atlanta resident and novelist Celestine Sibley reflects many visitors’ experiences at Piedmont Park. Some know the Park as a place to exercise and play, while others think of it as the home of many outdoor events and festivals.
Piedmont Park was first used as a gathering place for an Atlanta Civic group, The Gentlemen’s Driving Club. The club purchased the 189-acre Walker family farm in 1887. They were looking for a place outside of the city (Atlanta was about 3 miles to the South) where they could congregate and exercise their horses. The group of prominent businessmen (including Charles Collier and Henry W. Grady) also wanted to use the space to host expositions to promote the prosperity of the Piedmont region of The United States. To that end, they formed the Piedmont Exposition Company, which held their first exposition at The Gentlemen’s Driving Club later that same year.
There were 20,000 visitors to The Piedmont Exposition on opening day, October 10, 1887 and over 50,000 people attended on October 18th to see President Grover Cleveland. Also, in attendance was the Executive Committee of the World’s Fair organization. They were on hand to determine if Atlanta was ready to host a World’s Fair. The event closed on October 22 with a total attendance of about 200,000. When the exposition was over, civic leaders said that it had successfully expanded Atlanta’s reputation as a place to visit and to conduct business. The site, formerly known as “The Walker Farm,” had an official name change to “Piedmont Park.”
Piedmont Park was soon to host yet another impressive fair. The Cotton States and International Exposition’s goals were to foster trade between southern states and South American nations as well as to show the products and facilities of the region to the rest of the nation and to Europe. Approximately 800,000 attended the three-month exposition which ended on December 31, 1895.
Photo Credit: Atlanta History Center
Events and exhibits at the Cotton States and International Exposition included: a performance of “King Cotton March” conducted by John Phillip Sousa, Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, the Liberty Bell, The Streets of Cairo, The Women’s Building, and The Negro Building. The very popular “Shoot the Chute” ride (a waterslide with boat-cars) was later moved to Lakewood Park. The Exposition even included the first ever showing of a projected motion picture which used a projector called a Phantoscope, the patent of which was later sold to Thomas Edison.
Photo Credit: Atlanta History Center
Piedmont Park has always been a popular place for sports. Georgia’s first intercollegiate sporting event was held in the Park on February 20, 1892. The University of Georgia (UGA) and the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama (now known as Auburn) met head-to-head for the very first time. Nearly 125,000 swimmers swam in lake Clara Meer every year from 1911 until 1960. Atlanta’s first professional team, The Atlanta Crackers played their first baseball game against Nashville on Saturday, April 26, 1902 before a crowd of around 3,500. The Park was also home to Atlanta’s first golf course.
Atlanta’s largest urban park is also “the place” for intramural sporting events. In 2016 alone, the Active Oval (containing a running track, two soccer fields, two softball fields and two sand volleyball courts) had over 68,000 reserved players on its fields. The Park is also home to The Sharon E. Lester Tennis Center, a fully staffed, public facility, offering play on 12 lighted hard courts as well as bocce and basketball courts.
Nothing brings people together like live music and Piedmont Park has hosted some of music’s biggest stars, including The Grateful Dead (1969), R.E.M. (1982), The Black Crowes (1992), Dave Matthews Band (2007), Paul McCartney (2009), The Eagles (2010), Pearl Jam (2012), Journey (2013), and Elton John (2015).
The Atlanta Jazz Festival has been bringing thousands of visitors to Piedmont Park since it was founded by Mayor Maynard Jackson in 1978. Some of the artists that have participated in the Festival include Lionel Hampton (1980), Miles Davis (1983), Etta James (1986), Dizzy Gillespie (1988/1990), Wynton Marsalis (1989), Nina Simone (2000), Ray Charles (2002), Herbie Hancock (2000) and Macy Gray (2017).
In 2019, about a third of Piedmont Park’s 6 million visitors were attendees of special events or festivals. While these large events bring the world to Atlanta’s “Front Lawn,” it is the smaller events and family gatherings, like family reunions, birthday parties, and weddings, that truly make Piedmont Park our favorite gathering place.
Author: Patrick Teague, Piedmont Park Conservancy Docent
Sources:
- https://atlantafestivals.com/
- https://www.concertarchives.
org/ - Jim Tillman’s Tour Script
- Piedmont Park: Celebrating Atlanta’s Common Ground Hardcover – October 1, 2003
by Darlene Roth (Editor), Jeff Kemph (Editor), Lee May (Foreword)
