In honor of its 35th anniversary, Piedmont Park Conservancy is fundraising millions of dollars to maintain the historic park and kickstart a comprehensive master planning effort that will lay out the next decade of improvements.
The City of Atlanta purchased Piedmont Park in 1904, officially creating what Piedmont Park Conservancy President Doug Widener calls “our city’s Central Park.” In 1989, the Conservancy was founded to maintain and enhance the historic destination. But the over 180-acre space hasn’t seen a new master plan in decades.
Widener said the previous plan is “largely realized,” creating room for a new comprehensive park plan that would lay out a framework for future developments. To do so, though, the Conservancy is asking for a $3.5 million influx of cash to pay for master planning stages and upcoming park improvements.
The majority of the funds — $2.5 million — will go to updating and maintaining the area, with a $350,000 endowment set aside to create a reserve for the Conservancy and the rest set aside for kickstarting the master planning process.
“We really want to look at all parts of the park,” Widener said. “When we say comprehensive we mean community groups, various stakeholders, parents, athletes, runners, birder, dog lovers, dog owners, you name it.”
The master planning process will start in May with “big picture” surveys and public meetings to get input from people in Atlanta. Then, the Conservancy will “dive deeper into various themes” involving programming, sports and accessibility.
Widener’s focus is making sure the park is “serving humanity” while accommodating increased visitors and a changing city.
Once the team has gotten primary feedback, they will bring in a landscape architecture firm to “compile information, analyze and come back with major themes.” The firm will present broad concepts, drawings and schematics before going back for more public feedback in the fall.
Through the whole process, from feedback to final draft and city approvals, Widener hopes to have a finished comprehensive master plan by early next year. Once the plan is created, the Conservancy will begin a capital campaign to fund future developments.
“The goal is by the Landmark Lunch in April 2025, we’re celebrating a brand new comprehensive master plan that is really gonna chart our course of work for the next decade or two,” Widener said.
But the president and CEO of the Piedmont Park Conservancy said the nonprofit is looking at “three buckets — celebrating our past, recommitting to our present and envisioning our future.”
During the year-long master planning process the Conservancy will use $2.5 million to make improvements to the park including fountain restoration, entrance beautification, new flower beds erosion control, painting and paving, splash pad updates and the creation of a donor recognition feature.
Efforts are also underway to expand the park’s boundaries to Monroe Drive and Piedmont Avenue.
Widener aims to “help people notice the park looking different” in the present so they can prepare for a public engagement process during master planning.
“Really take the time this year to engage and rediscover the park and then share your ideas and plans for the park of the future because we won’t know unless you tell us,” Widener said.
The Piedmont Park Conservancy is hosting two major events to celebrate its 35th anniversary. On April 25 it will host its largest annual fundraiser, the Landmark Luncheon at the Promenade at Piedmont Park. On Sept. 26 it will host the “Party for Piedmont Park.” Both events raise money for daily management and operations.
