The Intown Academy, an Atlanta Public Schools Kindergarten-8th grade year-round charter school in the Old Fourth Ward, is raising funds to build the neighborhood’s first school playground. Prompted by a $15,000 Let’s Play Community Construction challenge grant from the Dr Pepper Snapple Group and national non-profit KaBOOM!, the school must build its playground by the end of April to keep the grant.
The school has raised enough funds to purchase the minimum amount of equipment for the grant, but is still raising $25,000 to complete Phase 2 of the project which will include additional playground equipment and planting trees. As of the end of February, The Intown Academy PTA, the Institute for America’s Health, Intown Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Midtown Neighbors Association, After School Programs (ASP), and EdisonLearning have contributed $10,300 collectively to Phase 1 of the project. The school is actively seeking help from a construction firm or landscape company who may be willing to donate time and equipment to remove some concrete sidewalk and dig post holes.
The Intown Academy is involved with District 2 Councilperson Kwanza Hall’s “Year of Boulevard” initiative committed to revitalizing the neighborhood and supporting its youth through a number of programs. The Intown Academy is also partnering with several Old Fourth Ward and Inman Park businesses to raise funds for the playground this month with a series of dining fundraisers. The following businesses will donate a percentage of sales on the days listed below:
March 11
5:30 – 11 p.m.
Noni’s Bar and Deli
357 Edgewood Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30312
5:30 – 10 p.m.
Fourth and Swift
621 North Avenue NE Atlanta GA 30308
March 12
11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. and 5 – 10 p.m.
Caramba Café
349 Decatur St SE Atlanta, GA 30312
(Pencil Factory Lofts)
March 16
11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Mr. and Miss Einsteins Ice Cream
572 Edgewood Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30312
(Dynamic Metal Lofts)
March 17
Noon to Midnight
Highland Cigar
245 North Highland Ave NE #140 Atlanta, GA 30307
Ages 21+
March 19
5 – 10:30 p.m.
P’Cheen
701 Highland Ave NE Atlanta, GA 30312
Ages 21+
March 27
11:30 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Pizzeria Vesuvius
327 Edgewood Ave SE Atlanta, GA 30312
In additional to financial contributions, the school is seeking 120 volunteers to help with the building of the playground on April 20; onsite childcare will be provided. To sign-up, please visit our Volunteer Spot webpage at this link. To make a financial contribution, please send checks to The Intown Academy, Attn: Playground, 386 Pine Street, Atlanta, GA, 30308 or visit intownacademy.org and click on the playground “Donate Now” link to pay securely by credit card.
