Atlanta's Piedmont Park turned 100 years old in 2004, and the Piedmont Park Conservancy continues to honor that milestone with a host of special events throughout the year.
Programs include the Green Market that runs every Saturday from May through October, featuring locally grown produce and work from local artists, as well as improv shows, Shakespeare in the park, dancing in the park, and much more. These events are in addition to the usual round of festivals Piedmont Park hosts each year, including the Dogwood Festival, the Atlanta Jazz Festival, the Pride Festival, and the Screen on the Green series.
Piedmont Park has a rich and interesting history. Originally founded as a private club for horse enthusiasts, the grounds hosted many expositions and fairs, with the city of Atlanta purchasing the land in 1904, and converting it from fairgrounds into a park. The areas of the park known as Oak Hill and the Meadow were originally utilized as a golf course, and automobile traffic went through the park until 1983.
The park saw a decline due to overuse and a rise in crime, so a group of concerned citizens formed the Piedmont Park Conservancy in 1989, and have become a powerful voice in the community. They've raised millions of dollars to rehabilitate the park. Improvements have included new grass, a cleanup of Lake Clara Meer, adding more security, implementing community education programs, and the creation of an off-leash dog area.
Piedmont Park is one of Atlanta's jewels and its importance in the community cannot be overlooked. In a time when greenspace is quickly evaporating from the city landscape, Piedmont Park has grown even bigger and better.