Piedmont Park

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Piedmont Park
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Piedmont Park.
Location:	Atlanta, Georgia
Built/Founded:	1895
Architect:	Joseph Forsyth Johnson;John Charles Olmsted; Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr.;
Added to NRHP:	May 13, 1976
NRHP Reference#:	76000629 [1]
Governing body:	Local

Piedmont Park is the 189-acre (0.76 km²) "Central Park" of Atlanta, Georgia, located in Midtown, north of the city center. Originally the land was owned by Dr. Benjamin Walker, who used it as his out-of-town gentleman's farm and residence. He sold the land in 1887 to the Gentlemen's Driving Club (later renamed the Piedmont Driving Club), who wanted to establish an exclusive club and racing ground for horse enthusiasts. The Driving Club entered an agreement with the Piedmont Exposition Company headed by prominent Atlantan, Charles A. Collier, to use the land for fairs and expositions and later gave the park its name.

The park was originally designed by Joseph Forsyth Johnson to host the first of two major expositions held in the park in the late 19th century. The Piedmont Exposition opened in October of 1887 to great fanfare. The event was a success and set the stage for the World's Fair which was held in the park seven years later in 1895. Both exhibitions showcased the prosperity of the region that had occurred during and after the Reconstruction period. In the early 20th century, a redesign plan called the Olmsted plan, was begun by the sons of New York Central Park architect, Frederick Law Olmsted. The efforts led to the addition of scenic paths in the park and the joining of the park with the Ansley park system.

Over the years, the park has also served as an athletic center for the city. Atlanta's first professional baseball team, the Atlanta Crackers, played in the park from 1902-1902. Several important intercollegiate rivalries were also forged in the park including the University of Georgia (Georgia) vs. Georgia Tech baseball rivalry and Georgia vs. Auburn football which has been called the "Oldest Rivalry in the South".

Throughout the 20th century, many other improvements have been made in the park including the addition of covered picnic areas, tennis facilities, the Lake Clara Meer dock and visitors center, and two playgrounds. Today, the park is a popular place for gathering, grilling, swimming, fishing, playing and more. In 2008, a ground-breaking ceremony was held for a 53-acre extension to the park and complete renovation of the bathhouse and swimming pool. The renovation is expected to be completed in summer of 2009, although the expansion will take much longer.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Opening 1.2 The 1887 Piedmont Exposition 1.3 The "Oldest Rivalry in the South" 1.4 The 1895 World's Fair 1.5 The Beginnings of Atlanta Baseball 1.6 The Olmsted Plan 1.7 20th Century Growth and Development 2 Piedmont Park Conservancy 3 Expansion 4 Activities and Facilities 4.1 Walking, Running, and Skating 4.2 Picnics 4.3 Tennis 4.4 Sports 4.5 Swimming Center 4.6 Fishing and the Lake 4.7 Playgrounds 4.8 Dogs and Dog Park 5 Special Events 6 Park Schedule 7 Fun Facts 8 References 9 External links

[edit] History

[edit] Opening

In the years before Piedmont Park opened, Atlanta was booming. From 1860 to 1890, the population had jumped from 9,554 to 65,533 residents.^[2] Those years saw the opening of many education institutions such as Clark University (1870), Morris Brown College(1882), Georgia School of Technology (1885), and Agnes Scott College(1890).^[2] John B. Gordon, a distinguished Confederate general, was Governor of Georgia.^[2]

The area soon to be known as Piedmont Park was owned by Benjamin Walker who purchased the 189 acres in the 1830’s from the man who had won the land in the land lottery.^[3] Walker farmed the land until, in 1887, he sold the land to the Gentlemen's Driving Club, known today as the Piedmont Driving Club, who planned "to form exclusive club and racing ground for horse enthusiasts". The driving club entered into an agreement with the Piedmont Exposition Company to use the grounds around the track as exposition space.^[3] Charles A. Collier, a prominent Atlanta businessman and former lawyer, was president of the company. Soon after, a main building, grandstands, and club house were built for the track.^[3]

[edit] The 1887 Piedmont Exposition

Main article: Piedmont Exposition

The first exposition ever held in Piedmont Park, the Piedmont Exposition of 1887, opened on October 10th.^[4] The main building constructed for the Exposition was 570 feet long, 126 feet wide, and two stories high.^[5] The first day opened with 20,000 visitors.^[6] Samuel J. Randall opened the Exposition with a speech on the success of the resurrected post-civil war south.^[4] When his speech concluded, General Pierce M. B. Young and his men fired cannons to signal the opening of the events.^[4]

Exhibitors showed off a variety of items including works of art, local raw materials like manganese marble, and wood work.^[4] Many prominent figures of the day were in attendance to see the displays. Governor David B. Hill of New York spoke at the event as well as President Grover Cleveland who attended with his new wife, Frances Folsom.^[7],^[8] Over 50,000 people were in attendance for Cleveland's speech.^[6] When the exposition was over, civic leaders said that it had successfully expanded Atlanta's reputation as a place to visit and to conduct business.^[6]

The Exposition was also a chance for Atlanta to prove that it was ready to host the World's Fair. The Executive Committee of the Fair was invited to attend the event under the bidding of Charles Reynolds, Secretary of the Piedmont Exposition Company.^[9]

[edit] The "Oldest Rivalry in the South"

Five years later, Piedmont Park was the location of the second football game and the beginning of the "oldest rivalry in the south" between Auburn University and the University of Georgia.^[10] The game was arranged by form Johns Hopkins classmates, Dr. Charles Herty of Georgia and Dr. George Petrie of Auburn.^[11] Auburn won the game 10-0.^[10] It was rumored afterward that Georgia's mascot, a goat, was the main course at a barbecue held by Georgia fans after the game. (It wasn't until 1921 that Georgia officially became the Bulldogs).^[11]

[edit] The 1895 World's Fair

In 1894, the Piedmont Exposition Company offered to sell the land to the city of Atlanta for $165,000.00, but Mayor John Goodwin refused.^[12] Thus, The park remained in private hands and outside the city limits for another ten years.

The Cotton States and International Exposition which opened for 100 days beginning on September 18, 1895 and ending December 31, 1895, attracted visitors from the U.S. and 13 countries.^[13] Over $2,000,000 was spent on the transformation of Piedmont Park.^[14] The government allocated $250,000 for the construction of a government building and many states and countries such as Argentina also had their own buildings.^[15] Also constructed for the fair were the Tropical gardens, now known as the Atlanta Botanical Garden, and Lake Clara Meer which was originally a pond but was expanded to 11.5-acres for the event.^[16] Today, the stone balustrades scattered around the park are the only part of the enormous main building.^[16] The park remains largely as Joseph Forsyth Johnson designed it for the exposition although some changes were made during the Olmsted planning phase.^[17] However, most of the buildings that were constructed for the exposition were made of local Georgia granite and the buildings were dismantled after the event so that the granite could be sold to absolve the debt that the city incurred to hold the fair.

Booker T. Washington delivered his famous Atlanta Compromise speech at the Expo, which is "widely regarded as one of the most significant speeches in American history".^[18] In his speech, Washington pushed for progress but not integration, a point that angered many other black leaders such as W.E.B. Du Bois.^[15]

Attractions included Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, the Liberty Bell, and the first public demonstration of C. Francis Jenkins and Thomas Armat's motion picture projection device which they called the Phantoscope.^[19],^[20] John Philip Sousa's "King Cotton" march was created for the expo and was performed at the ceremony, and was conducted by the composer himself.^[19]

After the Exposition, the park continued to be extremely popular and was a magnet for growth in the area. State fairs and holiday celebrations were held at the park. Street car lines to the park increased. It was a generally prosperous time.^[12]

[edit] The Beginnings of Atlanta Baseball

In March of 1898, the baseball fields were finally completed. April 16, 1898, the first baseball game between Georgia and Georgia Tech, then known as the Georgia School of Technology was played.^[21] From 1902 – 1904, the Atlanta Crackers, the city's original professional baseball team played ball on the fields of Piedmont Park before moving to a stadium on Ponce de Leon Avenue.^[16]

[edit] The Olmsted Plan

1904 for was an important year for the park. First, George Washington Collier died in 1903. Collier owned 202 acres of land to the west and north of the park that was sold for $300,000.00 to developers. Also that year, the city bought the park for $98,000 finally bring Piedmont Park into the Atlanta city limits. Mayor Evan Howell agreed to purchase the park, but only if it included those developed areas adjacent to the park which would add approximately $35,000.00-$40,000.00 in tax revenues annually.^[12]

The main developer of Collier's land was Edwin Ansley, who created the Ansley Park subdivision under the guidelines set by the Olmsteds. The result was curvy streets surrounding "mini-parks" comprising a total of 25 acres. In 1912, these parks were deeded to the city in 1912.^[12]

In 1909, the sons of Frederick Law Olmsted, landscape architect for Central Park in New York, Carey and Frederick, Jr. were asked to design the park's master plan while they were at work on Grant Park. The city agreed to pay $1,800 for the plan, but Olmsted was concerned that Atlanta might not have enough money for the necessary improvements.^[22]

In 1910, the brothers submitted a plan for the park that was to include a 5 mile scenic path and driveways that would like Piedmont Park to the streets of Ansley Park. Joining the parks was a success and thereafter, the parks were known as Twin Parks.^[22]

Although the plan was never fully implemented, the Olmsted plan had a great effect on the development in the surrounding area.

[edit] 20th Century Growth and Development

The park's first bathhouse was opened in 1911. Swimming in the lake was allowed until 1973, when a swimming pool was finally built.^[23]

January 29, 1913, Calvin Shelverton applied for a building permit to construct the Piedmont Park Apartments. The apartments were designed by Leila Ross Wilburn and were decidedly middle-class unlike some of the other developments in the area. The apartments remained middle-class up until about 1960 and residents included such prominent Atlantans as accounting company president T. C. Dunlap and lawyer J. B. Stewart. In 1913, seven clay courts were built where the 1895 Cotton States and International Exposition's Manufacturers and Liberal Arts Building once was. Eight more courts were added in 1914 to accommodate the overwhelming demand.^[12]

Notable Additions

• The Bandstand was built in 1915.^[24]

• The Work Progress Administration (WPA) built the Picnic Shelter in 1936.^[24]

• The was Noguchi "Playscape" was completed in 1976 under the aegis of the High Museum and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.^[25] I was designed by world-renown artist and sculptor Isamu Noguchi and was the only public work by Noguchi in the U.S.^[26]

• In 2002, the dog park was opened.^[27]

The Noguchi "Playscapes" underwent restoration in 2005 under Eddie Granderson, public arts manager of the City of Atlanta. Jablonski Berkowitz Conservation Inc. was selected to do the restoration and assessments began in September of that year. The company was charged with bringing the playground up to safety codes and restoring the original paint.^[26]

[edit] Piedmont Park Conservancy

The Piedmont Park Conservancy is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization that is in charge of park improvements and 90 percent of the Park's daily maintenance care and security. The Conservancy was founded in 1989 to revitalize the rapidly deteriorating park. Since then, it has raised and invested $23 million in private funds making the park, once again, the most visited green space in Atlanta.^[28]

[edit] Expansion

This article or section contains information about expected future buildings or structures. Some or all of this information may be speculative, and the content may change as building construction begins.

Approximately 50 acres in the northwest portion of the 187-acre (0.76 km²) park have remained undeveloped and largely inaccessible. As of 2007, the park expansion plan called for a new parking deck as well as "open green space, bicycle and walking trails, formal and community gardens, an interactive water feature, children’s playgrounds, a skate park, athletic fields and woodlands."^[29] The project is expected to cost $72 million and the completion date is set for early 2010.^[30]

On April 23, 2008, a ground-breaking ceremony was held at the Bathhouse for the 53-acre expansion of the Park. The pool and bathhouse are part of a huge Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) renovation that will cost around $7.8 million and be completed by summer 2009.^[23],^[31] The renovation will feature accessibility, a warming kitchen, WiFi, a pool with beach entry, bubblers, current channel, vortex, fountains, separate splash pad, lap lanes, landscaped deck environment, and concessions. In addition, the pool will include the Poseidon Drowning Detection system, a camera system "to enhance the lifeguard's ability to watch over the entire pool."^[31]

[edit] Activities and Facilities

[edit] Walking, Running, and Skating

There are also several miles of paved paths suitable for walking, running, biking, and inline skating. Skate Escape across from the park at the 12th Street entrance rents both bikes and skates^[32]. On weekend afternoons, skateboarders and inline skaters often share the open, paved area inside the 12th Street entrance^[33]

[edit] Picnics

The park has picnic shelters located just to the East of the north soccer field. There are also various picnic tables and benches throughout the park. Many visitors choose to picnic on the expansive lawns as well.

The first grill in Piedmont Park was erected for the 1895 World's Fair where the administrative offices now sit. There are 22 grills throughout the park. No portable grills are allowed.^[34]

[edit] Tennis

Piedmont Park is a popular place for organized sports. The Piedmont Tennis Center is a fully-staffed, public facility with 12 lighted hard courts, offering leagues, lessons, and supplies.^[35]

[edit] Sports

The Active Oval has two softball fields, two soccer fields, and two beach volleyball courts, all ringed by a dirt running path. Kickball leagues also use the softball fields.

[edit] Swimming Center

The swimming center is currently closed for renovations. It is scheduled to re-open in summer of 2009.^[31]

[edit] Fishing and the Lake

The lake is located in the south east park of the park. Fishing is permitted in the lake which is stocked with Large Mouth Bass, Crappie, Bream and Catfish. In 2002 the lake was renovated with a bridge connecting the two bodies of water and three fishing piers located around the lake.^[36]

Clara Meer Dock is located at the west corner of the lake. Just above the Dock sits the historic Visitor Center building. Clara Meer Dock forms an amphitheater-like space nestled into the western end of the lake. Clara Meer Dock is often used for wedding ceremonies. Rental of the dock also includes the Visitor's Center. The Visitor's Center features a barrel ceiling with a painted mural called "A Day at the Park" by Ralph Gilbert.^[37] The center seats 40 persons inside + 200 or more, on adjoining Lawn and Dock. The Dock seats up to 120 for ceremony, or up to 100 for table dining or possible dance floor area.^[37]

[edit] Playgrounds

Mayor's Grove is the newer of the two playgrounds in Piedmont Park. It was designed as a Boundless™ playground and features a high level of accessibility and interactive play.^[25]

The Noguchi "Playscape" is located near the 12th Street Gate. The geometrically shaped, modernist playground includes a soaring swing set, slide, sand pit, climbing dome and more made of bright and exciting colors.^[25]

[edit] Dogs and Dog Park

With the exception of some festival weekends and special events, dogs are permitted in Piedmont Park, on leashes 6 feet (1.8 m) or shorter for safety reasons. Owners must clean up after their dogs, and the park has a half-dozen plastic bag dispensing stations to facilitate this. Several of the park's water fountains also have a ground-level basin for dogs to use.

Just north of the Park Road entrance bridge is a separate, fenced-in Dog Park where friendly dogs (and their owners) can cavort with each other off-leash. There is also an additional fenced-in section exclusively for small dogs to play in.

The Leash-free Alliance of Piedmont Park (LAPP) is a volunteer group that works with the Conservancy on dog park improvements, fundraising efforts, and clean up projects.^[27]

[edit] Special Events

Piedmont Park is considered the focal point of the vibrant Midtown community of Atlanta. The park is home to various annual celebrations and events, including Atlanta Pride Festival, the Atlanta Jazz Festival and the Atlanta Dogwood Festival. A summer series of classic films, Screen on the Green, is also aired in the park for local residents.

In 2004, Georgia Shakespeare Festival added an annual series of free performances entitled "Shake on the Lake" with Lake Clara Meer as a backdrop.^[38] A centennial celebration was held for the park in June 2004.

The park is occasionally a host to local cross-dressing street performer Baton Bob. On the weekend the park comes alive with music, intramural sports and fun festivities. In 2007, the Allman Brothers Band and Dave Matthews Band played a concert with proceeds benefiting the planned expansion to the park.

[edit] Park Schedule

The park opens from 6:00AM to 11:00PM every day.

[edit] Fun Facts

Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.

• Margaret Mitchell, author of Gone with the Wind, first met actor Clark Gable who played Rhett Bulter at an Atlanta Women's Press Club reception at the Piedmont Driving Club on the day that the movie premiered at Loew's Grand Theater.^[39]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Official Park Site
• Friends of Piedmont Park
• Atlanta Pride
• Atlanta Jazz Festival
• Atlanta Dogwood Festival
• Screen on the Green
• Then/Now photos of Piedmont Park
• Another set of Then/Now photos of Piedmont Park
• Atlanta, Georgia, a National Park Service Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary

Coordinates: 33°47′10.00″N, 84°22′24.00″W

 

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