Beltline’s Old Fourth Ward Park Now Open

Decatur Metro | February 28, 2011 | 9:49 am

Last week, urban communicator extraordinator, Thomas Wheatley, whispered to the world that the Old Fourth Ward Park along the Beltline had unofficially opened to the public.  (“Unofficially” means the fences were taken down, but there hasn’t been a “Grand Opening” ceremony yet).

And this past weekend one of our favorite local photogs, Josh D. Weiss visited the park and put up a few great shots on his website.

Not only is Old Fourth Ward Park already getting rave reviews from residents, but the storm-water retention pond at the park’s center also helps Atlanta meet the federal mandate to upgrade its aging sewer system.  According to Wheatley, additional green-space and an adjoining skate-park will soon complement the park.

Josh’s photo used with permission.

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10 Responses to “Beltline’s Old Fourth Ward Park Now Open”

  1. DarenW says:
    February 28, 2011 at 10:20 am

    Went for a walk around here on Sunday. Really quite nice, but everything outside of the reservoir itself is unfinished. Lot’s of empty parking lots, brownfields, etc. Of course, that’s what you get when you show up at a park that hasn’t officially opened yet. It should be a real gem when it’s finished.

    The design is great, with lots of fountains and a real sense of calm in the midst of the city. Let’s hope they can keep the taggers at bay.

    • TeeRuss says:
      February 28, 2011 at 10:55 am

      Re: taggers, that was my first reaction to the photos. Those granite walls will be covered with graffiti in no time.

      • AnotherRick says:
        February 28, 2011 at 1:51 pm

        That might be correct, but i hope not. I have notice that the years old Reynoldstown mural on Moreland, across from the Edgewood retail center, certainly in a taggers area, has never been defaced. Also, the wonderful mural on the old Harry in a Hurray store on Highland, that Urban Outfitters destroyed for a show window when they occupied that space, was never defaced. Why do you think those spots were not defaced but you speculate these walls will be? Is it because they are blank walls?

        • TeeRuss says:
          March 1, 2011 at 11:15 am

          There are tons of granite walls along Freedom Parkway that are vandalized almost daily. Not that I’m up on the idiotic moral code that these artist-criminals adhere to, but murals seem to be off limits, while granite walls seem to be fair game.

  2. Decatur Heights Dad says:
    February 28, 2011 at 8:52 pm

    As a general rule of thumb, taggers will not tag murals or other artwork. They will obliterate a clean wall.

  3. AMB says:
    March 1, 2011 at 11:17 am

    Is there a reason for all the hardscape? Maybe the pictures don’t give the full story but I see no ‘park’ here.

    • Bobby says:
      March 1, 2011 at 5:31 pm

      Yes, there’s a reason. What you see here wasn’t “built to surround a retention pond;” it is a storm water impoundment that doubles as public space when it’s not full of water.

  4. Oakhurst Gossip says:
    March 1, 2011 at 12:19 pm

    Looks beautiful. Can’t wait to check it out.

    Why does a “park” have to simply be a field and grass? There should be all kinds of different kids of parks and public spaces. Our Decatur Square Plaza is nothing but concrete either.

    This was built to surround a retention pond. I doubt anyone would want to go swimming there.

  5. Chris says:
    March 1, 2011 at 3:04 pm

    The “park” or “greenspace” that you think is missing is not finished yet. That is Phase II which will be done this spring. Phase I is what you see here.

    Check it out

    http://www.h4wpc.org/images/master_plan_phases1-2.jpg

  6. Tom L says:
    March 1, 2011 at 4:04 pm

    What I like is that this flips the old Joni Mitchell song, Pave Paradise, Put Up A Parking Lot, on its head!