Atlanta City Councilmember Keisha Lance Bottoms introduced legislation at Monday’s meeting that supports Georgia State House Bills 586 and 587, which would amend the Atlanta City Charter to change the corporate limits by providing annexation referenda for communities in DeKalb and South Fulton. The legislation urges all members of the Atlanta delegation to support House Bills 586 and 587, both of which were introduced by Representative Pat Garner of the 57th District. House Bill 586 allows the amendment of the city’s charter to change the corporate limits to include part of Druid Hills, Briar Vista, LaVista Park, Clairmont Heights and Medlock communities, as well as Emory University and the Centers for Disease Control. House Bill 587 would allow annexation of numerous communities along the Cascade, Camp Creek and Butner Road corridors. The two annexations would be the city’s largest since 1952.
Atlanta City Councilmember Kwanza Hall will join the Historic Fourth Ward Park Conservancy to open a new shade structure on Friday, March 20, at 11:00 a.m. in Historic Fourth Ward Park, near the splash pad at 664 Angier Avenue. “Families will love this latest park amenity,” said Councilmember Hall. “This is the perfect project for a park conservancy. We are so grateful to the Historic Fourth Ward Park Conservancy for their creative support of intown Atlanta’s favorite new city park.” The new shade pavilion has recently been constructed as a contribution from the conservancy to the park. The pavilion is an open-air structure with a canopy of black locust wood louvers and galvanized steel tube purlins supported on galvanized steel girders and columns. “Park Pride awarded the conservancy a $16,000 grant for the installation of a shade structure in the playground area,” said Betty Hanacek, director of Capacity Building with Park Pride.
The Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation recently held a ribbon cutting and community celebration for the new installation of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Park Playground at 112 Boulevard NE. The new playground in the King Historic District is available for residents, Hope-Hill Elementary School students, Martin Luther King, Jr. Center of Hope participants and Atlanta visitors. “I made this project a priority when I was named Commissioner,” said Amy Phuong, Commissioner of the Department of Parks and Recreation. “I promised Hope-Hill Elementary School and the community that I would deliver on this park. With Mayor Kasim Reed’s support and collaboration from Councilmember Kwanza Hall, Atlanta Public Schools, Ebenezer Baptist Church and the National Park Services, the playground was built and ready in less than 3 months.” The Department of Parks and Recreation invested $110,000 in the playground. The playground is a playscape design offering a wide range of open-ended play options and allow children to be creative while working on their development skills.
