Piedmont Park: A Destination, Not A Pass Through

[thelakelander]

It is a great park, a number of baseball fields, tennis courts, the new North side with Dog Parks, the Bot (Atlanta Botanical Garden off Piedmont), the restaurant at 10th and Monroe, with a great outdoor fire pit for the colder months, it is a great park, but for the article to insist that the park, itself, contributed to the growth of Midtown is an absurd exaggeration. What is now Midtown, in the 80s and most of the 90s was what our Springfield is now. Outside investors, much like in Buckhead, which has no real large park, the investors came in and leveled the smaller structures and built large apartment buildings throughout Midtown. There were also commercial developments and restaurants there, along the park, well before the latest explosion. The park continues to be a place for intown residents to enjoy.

You don't think the park has been an economic benefit to the area immediately surrounding it?  Nevertheless, the article doesn't state that the park is the sole reason for growth in Midtown Atlanta.  It only states that area has economically benefitted from it and includes a few images of development on the park's perimeter.

[Keith-N-Jax]

Ah how I miss Atlanta. I am amazed at the amount of development that has occurred there since I left

[mtraininjax]

You don't think the park has been an economic benefit to the area immediately surrounding it?

No I do not, case in point, move up Peachtree Street to Buckhead and see if any one park contributed to the re-birth of Buckhead. I think that the park succeeds from the old established neighborhoods of Virginia-Highlands, Ansley Park,  and the residences around Midtown that are still there from the 10s, 20s, and younger. The park was made by the people who used it who lived in those areas, long before the new re-birth with glass and steel skyscrapers.

Answer this if you think I am wrong, Is Centennial Park the main factor in the rebirth of that area, or could it instead be said that the establishment of the Georgia Aquarium, longtime factor of CNN and recent mover in World of Coke, were the reasons for the rebirth down in this area, not far from the "gulch"?

My belief is that the park is not the factor in the area, rather it is the items around the park that make the park, that much more special. If you are saying that, and I am misinterpreting it, I am sorry.

[thelakelander]

I do believe that Centennial Park has been a  factor in some of the recent development that has taken place around it.  I also consider World of Coke and the Georgia Aquarium to be built-in amenities and attractions of the overall park itself.  Whether the actual park without the added amenities is the main factor is irrelevant, imo.  Typically, within an urban environment, there are several factors at play that combine to contribute to continued economic development.  By the same token, I believe that Piedmont Park has been an economic plus to the land uses immediately surrounding it, as well.  Case in point, I rented a bike from a shop across the street from the park.  Another group in front of me, rented rollerblades from this business.  It was clear that rental of recreational equipment by park users was a major part of this particular retailer's operation.  Without the park being there, I believe that a bike shop at that location would have been less viable.

[simms3]

Atlanta is not a waterfront or coastal city.  Activity is going to predominantly occur around parks.  Midtown has Piedmont Park.  Downtown has Woodruff and Centennial Olympic parks.  There is a Central Park between the two where I play on a kickball league (we couldn't get a Piedmont Park league because they are full years in advance it seems).  There is Grant Park, which is FABULOUS and has the Civil War memorial (beautiful marble memorial) and the Atlanta zoo (a classic "park zoo" like Lincoln Zoo).  There is Chastain Park in Buckhead, which is such an asset to that area and features a beautifully maintained public golf course, horse stables and championship jumping courses, and a park green that has the biggest names in concerts.

There is actually an Inman Park.  It is not just the name of the neighborhood, but the neighborhood grew around it.  There is actually an Ansley Park which gave the surrounding neighborhood its name, which is in my opinion the best place to take your dog in Midtown and the park is a GEM, deep trenches and beautiful landscaping below multimillion dollar historic AND phenominal contemporary homes.  There are so many parks.  There is Candler Park, where 420 Fest is held each year (the Sweetwater 420 beer, not marijuana).

The Beltline has already added more genuinely good park space in Stanton Park and Old Fourth Ward Park than I can think of in Jax.  And it will also be a 22 mile trail when complete (and light rail).

The Dogwood Festival is next weekend and really marks the start of the best time and most active time to be in Atlanta.  The festival is one of the largest in the country, is a multi-generational tradition (76 years I believe?), and brings hundreds of thousands to Midtown.  420 Fest is the same weekend in Druid Hills.  Every weekend from that point on culminating with Pride and Dragon Con around Labor Day is a crowd generator throughout the intown neighborhoods.  It really is amazing the difference the city undergoes between March and April.

In the last couple years really big musical acts have played to HUGE crowds in Piedmont Park, including Paul McCartney and Dave Matthews.  The concerts are fundraisers for the park itself.  I envision that if the Shipyards could be turned into a phenominal public park, and somehow we can get development across the street, you could have these same big name musical acts coming to Jacksonville and playing against the backdrop of the river.

[simms3]

As people have brought up, another important aspect is what's around the park.  Midtown around the park has a density of between 8,000 and 14,000 ppsm.  Densities immediately surrounding the other parks are between 5,000 and 12,000 ppsm.  Parking is nonexistent for big festivals and people take the trains in to go to the parks, so a lot of walking around is involved.

Another aspect is that with each park, but especially Piedmont Park, there are constant activity series going on.  This time of year that dog park that looked "normal" crowded in the pictures is CROWDED, and there is a beer stand and sometimes music (Dog Days in the Park).  In the spring there is Spring on the Green, where movies are shown on the Great Lawn.  This has drawn an inner city crowd that comes in on the trains, and there was a shooting last year, so this year may be canceled or at least advertised kind of only in Midtown.  Simultaneously there is Flicks on Fifth held on the Fifth St bridge over the interstate on Tech's campus, where more Midtown residents go because the most dangerous person going there is probably going to be a nerdy Tech student.  The bridge is also a park and a Fall tailgate zone.

Jacksonville just needs one waterfront park downtown and it needs to expand and clean up Hogans/McCoys Creek and the surrounding parks to their former glory.  It has a beach, less density, and far fewer people to need to provide expensive greenspace to than Atlanta.  Hopefully Jax can just nail those 2 parks down and it will retain the beach as a great point of public waterfront and "park" access.

[simms3]

Not to derail the topic, but on my way to Pele's Pizza at the insistence of my parents.  Apparently they take "call aheads", but they don't hold reservations.  Slightly confusing, ha.

[simms3]

great article Ennis....I visited Piedmont Park a few months ago and was stunned by all of the things that had been added over the past few years....their new aquatic center is absolutely gorgeous and the adjacent playground is very heavily used....also interesting is the modern art-inspired playground up the hill from there (not shown in the pictures).

Remembered there was something significant about the playscape, but just Googled.

http://forecastpublicart.org/par-50.php

Isamu Noguchi, 1976

I have had the pleasure of playing on said playground.  Of course I was with friends and we were all far from sober the few times we enjoyed that section of the park   (College experimentation days...have had plenty of those in that park years ago)

[mtraininjax]

Jacksonville just needs one waterfront park downtown

We have it in Met Park but the City of Jacksonville has done a piss poor job of investment into it. Really a shame, could have been so much more, now an after thought and host to a handful of events.

Mayor Brown - At least Mayor Peyton had a few concerts there, why don't you get off your butt and deploy a few concerts there as well?! Invest in downtown, a place where people will show up, if you make the investment!

[thelakelander]

I think concerts at Metropolitan Park are a complete waste.  It's a good mile from the heart of downtown and offers little economic benefit to downtown businesses.  Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing more of its events shifted to spots like Hemming.  By the way, we also have Friendship Fountain and a good chunk of green
space lining the Northbank Riverwalk between CSX and the Landing that we do nothing with.  Imo, we have enough parks.  Instead of adding to supply, we ought to be investing and better maintaining the ones we do have.

[simms3]

It should also be noted that funding for Piedmont Park is driven by the Piedmont Park Conservancy.  Many people are "members" of Piedmont Park and pay annual dues.  It's similar to the High Museum and other museums and the Botanical Gardens.  It takes funding from member dues, its endowment, and major fundraisers and capital campaigns.  The City of Atlanta cannot afford its park system.  The Conservancy has invested over $64M since 1989 in Piedmont Park from private funds.

http://www.piedmontpark.org/visit/history.html

There is also this Piedmont Beautification Foundation.

http://www.piedmontbeautificationfoundation.org/projects.htm

City Parks Alliance

http://www.cityparksalliance.org/why-urban-parks-matter/frontline-parks/parks/148

Chastain Park is even larger than Piedmont Park, and ownership has been transferred from the City of Atlanta to 11 for-profit and non-profit entities operating within the park.  The Chastain Park Conservancy oversees all of it.  There is the Amphitheater, which is a joint venture between Live Nation and the Atlanta Symphony, there's the Cultural Center, which is operated by a division of parks and recreation, then there are non-profits like the Horse Center and for-profits like the golf course and the tennis center.

http://www.chastainparkconservancy.org/parkinfo.html

Chastain Park Civic Association - annual membership of $95 supports the park

http://chastainpark.org/

Centennial Olympic Park originally cost about $75M, and was largely funded by 486,000 engraved bricks, much like under the pavilions on the northbank riverwalk.

And finally here is a general article I found while searching for various park funding.  It gives examples of economic impacts of parks across the country, and goes specifically into the numbers.

http://www.naturewithin.info/Policy/APA_econ.pdf


We have seen how the City of Jacksonville treats its parks and we know it has the lowest parks budget in the state, and without re-allocating funds from something else or raising taxes, it will be difficult to get the parks the city deserves.  Perhaps some wealthy philanthropists and business leaders in the metro should step up and get similar funding programs in place and set up public-private partnerships with the city.

[tufsu1]

Mayor Brown - At least Mayor Peyton had a few concerts there, why don't you get off your butt and deploy a few concerts there as well?! Invest in downtown, a place where people will show up, if you make the investment!

mtrain...there have been at ;least 3 concerts in Met Park since Mayor Brown has been in office....and the next few weeks will be pretty busy.

[mtraininjax]

mtrain...there have been at ;least 3 concerts in Met Park since Mayor Brown has been in office....and the next few weeks will be pretty busy.

World of Nations is NOT original, what were the 3 concerts and what are the future ones you speak of? India Fest? Really? Surely we have had other better shows since the illustrious inauguration?

How about us spend the 1.2 million Littlepage suggests on Met Park? Sure could use someone to fix the southbank boards and Navy memorial. After all Brown campaigned on being progressive, just waiting to see it, maybe I could find out at the 7/11.

How about this, Met Park is not even listed on the Jaxevents.com website, not managed by SMG, its managed by the same group that manages Hemming Plaza, yes, now I see where the problem lies, not in the park, but the management. 

I am sure that all the folks who were at the Styx show will love seeing http://www.welcometorockvillefestival.com/

What no pit in the ground with mud was available?

[mtraininjax]

Instead of adding to supply, we ought to be investing and better maintaining the ones we do have.

Lake, sure, I'll use your own words. Thanks

Met Park will hold 10,000 people, the pavilion 3,000. It is a great location, along the river and perfect for outdoor entertainment. You can't put 10% of that in Hemming Plaza without having someone yell fire, and setting off a major panic. Plus, where do 1,000 people park in Hemming Plaza? With Met park, you have Lot J, K, H, M, N - you get the picture, and can you arrive at Hemming Plaza by boat. I rest my case.

Met Park was created in 1984, but what has the city really done with it since?

[fieldafm]

Sure could use someone to fix the southbank boards and Navy memorial.

That is part of a $6.2mm redesign of the Southbank Riverwalk Haskell is doing which should start later this year. 

I agree MetPark is VASTLY underutilized b/w noise restrictions and virtually no active programming (St Aug Ampitheatre gets all of those concerts due to a great program manager and the fact that they don't have to worry about neighbors across the river).  Met Park has been plagued by years of bad plans and noise complaints.  Hell, Peyton wanted to FLATTEN the land at one point (which made no sense for an outdoor ampitheatre).

Hemming though could easily see outdoor concerts that could draw 500-1,000 people however if that was the City's actual perogative.