The Atlanta Memorial Park Conservancy (AMPC) and the City of Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) have officially opened Betty Young Park, a new neighborhood pocket park in Buckhead.
The ribbon cutting ceremony, held on April 25, marked the transformation of a once-flooded residential lot into a greenspace for the community and Northwest BeltLine Connector trail users. The lot, acquired by the City of Atlanta in 2011 under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, has been repurposed to provide space for walking, reading a book, or for children to play.
Notable speakers at the event included Catherine Spillman, Executive Director of AMPC; Mary Norwood, City of Atlanta District 8 Council Member; and Justin Cutler, DPR Commissioner. Their collective efforts – along with ongoing support from the Peachtree Battle Alliance (PBA) which will be maintaining the park in perpetuity – were instrumental in bringing this project to fruition, according to a press release.
“Betty Young Park is a prime example of what can be accomplished through public and private partnerships to continuously add value to this great city,” commented DPR Commissioner Justin Cutler. “We applaud the foresight and effort that the family, AMPC and the community have put forth to transform this land into an immaculate greenspace that Atlantans will enjoy for generations to come.”
Following the ribbon cutting, children and families enjoyed a play date in the park. The event featured free popsicles from King of Pops courtesy of AMPC and PBA, adding a sweet touch to a memorable day.
Catherine Spillman summarized the day’s festivities, sharing: “Betty Young Park is more than just a greenspace; it was created out of a family’s love for their mother, Sophie Elizabeth Fugitt Young (Betty), whose memory will live on in the sounds of laughter coming from children swinging on the basket swings and the friendships that will be created in this special place.”
