The Atlanta Hawks have been sold to an ownership group led by Tony Ressler, co-founder of Ares Management. The group also includes seven-time NBA All-Star Grant Hill, Clayton Dubilier & Rice partner Rick Schnall, and Spanx founder Sara Blakely and Marquis Jet co-founder Jesse Itzler, who are married. The transaction, which includes operation of Philips Arena, requires the approval of the NBA Board of Governors. Terms of the sale were not released. “We are honored and thrilled to have been chosen to become the new stewards of the Hawks,” said Ressler. “We respect the NBA’s approval process and, accordingly, can say no more other than we are incredibly excited by the Hawks’ success and wish them luck in the playoffs.”

Livable Buckhead Executive Director Denise Starling, Atlanta City Councilman Howard Shook, North Buckhead Civic Association president Gordon Certain and Park Pride Associate Director Allison Barnett each raise a shovelful of dirt to ceremonially break ground for the new Mountain Way Commons park. (Photo by Joe Earle)
Livable Buckhead Executive Director Denise Starling, Atlanta City Councilman Howard Shook, North Buckhead Civic Association president Gordon Certain and Park Pride Associate Director Allison Barnett each raise a shovelful of dirt to ceremonially break ground for the new Mountain Way Commons park. (Photo by Joe Earle)

A ceremonial groundbreaking was held on Wednesday, April 22, for Mountain Way Commons, a new park to be located under the Georgia 400 overpass at Mountain Way in Buckhead. Volunteers spent hundreds of hours cleaning the area for the park and raising money for it, said Gordon Certain, president of the North Buckhead Civic Association. Now workers will construct a pedestrian bridge over Little Nancy Creek and boardwalks connecting the bridge. “The bridge will transform the park, making it easy to cross Little Nancy Creek and allowing park visitors to get a unique view the creek,” Certain said. Construction of the bridge is scheduled to be completed in July.

The City of Atlanta has been selected by Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and Director of the National Park Service Jonathan B. Jarvis to receive a $280,000 federal grant to assist in constructing  a new 9.2-acre community park adjacent to Proctor Creek in northwestern Atlanta. The park will include a 1,400-foot pedestrian and bike trail that will also provide the access to the park; three new adult fitness stations and three children’s play stations; benches; and unstructured spaces for picnicking and play.

Collin Kelley has been the editor of Atlanta Intown for two decades and has been a journalist and freelance writer for 35 years. He’s also an award-winning poet and novelist.