Register now, it's free!
Log In | Customer Care

Breaking News

Chaotic day for markets: Dow closes down about 125 »

Concession stand coming to Piedmont Park
Trial recycling program also part of money-making effort

By KEN SUGIURA
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 06/27/08

Hot dogs and soft drinks are coming to Piedmont Park, with perhaps a slight cushion for the city of Atlanta's budget crisis on the side.

[ Post your comments below. ]

Atlanta fiscal crisis:

• AJC Living Green

Monday, the Piedmont Park Conservancy, the non-profit group that manages the 185-acre property, will open up a concession stand at the park's tennis center. It will be Piedmont's first fixed vending operation since 1910, according to the conservancy's research.

The conservancy will evenly split the profits with the city's parks department, a welcome opportunity for the city in light of its projected $140 million budget shortfall for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

Dianne Harnell Cohen, the city's commissioner for the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, said the department has had to cut $4.9 million from its upcoming budget.

"We're looking at any kind of revenue source that would help," Cohen said.

Piedmont Park will be the second city park with vending operations, after tiny Findley Plaza in Little Five Points, she said. Operating groups for Chastain and Woodruff parks also have received city permission to have concessions.

The concessions stand at Piedmont, which would be operated by a vendor hired by the conservancy, will offer standard picnic fare – kosher hot dogs, chips, soft drinks and the like.

Chris Nelson, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the conservancy, said that when the group has surveyed park visitors in the past, concessions has always been a popular request.

"We hope it makes money, but we also are doing it because we feel it is an important amenity to offer to the public," Nelson said.

Nelson did not have revenue projections for the Piedmont concessions.

Bike and skate rentals could be included in concessions, Cohen said. The city is also considering operating a skate park.

Parks such as Piedmont and Chastain "have the ability to become strong, robust revenue generators for the parks department," said Councilman H. Lamar Willis.

Piedmont will also start a trial recycling program on Wednesday. The park will place 50 bins around the park where visitors can deposit plastic bottles and aluminum cans.

The park will collect data over 90 days to analyze how much recyclables they collect, the money is saved by removing recyclables from the trash stream, and what the park earns back by selling the plastic and aluminum to recycling companies.

Central Atlanta Progress, a downtown improvement group that manages Woodruff Park, is planning a small fast-food restaurant, coffee shop and sit-down restaurant at the three-acre downtown park, according to Cooper Holland, Central Atlanta Progress' senior project manager for the park. A playground is also in the works, she said.

Central Atlanta Progress still needs to have its construction plans approved by the city before it can start raising funds for the buildings, which would be leased out, Holland said.

"We're not blowing up the park and starting over again," Holland said. "We're taking the good parts of the design and adding to it."

The Chastain Park Conservancy's plans are undetermined.

Vote for this story!

Related Subjects

Expand this list

Comments

By maddoxh

Jul 11, 2008 12:18 PM | Link to this

I said it once and I'll say it again. Casino, Casino, Casino. Budget shortfall solved.

By knowit

Jun 30, 2008 1:05 PM | Link to this

Park Fee thinks the "Committee" should charge so that public funding is not used. Boy, talk about clueless - The conservancy is a donor funded nonprofit!

By Sunny

Jun 29, 2008 9:03 AM | Link to this

We just need a new planet.

By Keverz

Jun 28, 2008 9:17 PM | Link to this

Why didn't they think to offer concessions and other revenue-type programs, before?

Hmmmm...they lied when they said t was ALSO for us, not just fro the money.

Thanks, Atlanta.

By jeff thompson

Jun 28, 2008 6:31 PM | Link to this

It's not the city that controls alcohol on Sundays, it's the State. Also, Fanplex WAS an idiotic idea. Concessions at the park will be fine.

By SW

Jun 28, 2008 6:29 PM | Link to this

Will Shirley's x-husband or daughter be running the weinee stand? If so, I am sure we will never see the profits. If the contract follows ATL policy, it will only go to an unqualified, unproductive, unmonitored person. All others need not to apply.

By Brijetbrazi

Jun 28, 2008 6:26 PM | Link to this

I think this is a fantastic idea, however, it would be great if the concession stand offered healthy "picnic fair" as well. I believe this would improve their revenue since many park goers are often interested in eating healthy. Also, I am super excited that the park will be adding in recycling; this at least will allow patrons the opportunity to conveniently recycle while using the parks amenities.

By Tom

Jun 28, 2008 2:04 PM | Link to this

In all fairness, FAN-Plex was developed by the unnecessary Fulton County Stadium Authority. The failure of it was due to Social Engineering, i.e. locating it in a poor location to spur development.

If they had located in on the site of the old Juvinille Detention facility, (which is now a Driver Services office) it would have been a gold mine, drawing people staying at the hotel across the street, or fans walking down from the GA State rail station. But they decided to locate it South of Turner Field.

AND they paid millions for a study confirming that was a good idea. (let's not hire THAT firm again)

By Jeremy

Jun 28, 2008 2:03 PM | Link to this

If the city wants to increase revenues, they should start by not restricting the things that bring people here to spend money - restaurants, bars, and clubs. The insanity of making all bars close on Sundays is plainly hurting the city. A real city is alive 24/7/365. Atlanta needs to embrace that. On an aside, the people that complain about the city having bad roads, bad public transit, bad schools, poor water infrastructure, and terrible sidewalks are the same people that complain about the idea of increased taxes. You can't have it both ways. The city certainly could stand to manage it's money better, but people need to sacrifice if they want to live in a world class place.

By deets

Jun 28, 2008 1:24 PM | Link to this

I've got two words on the City of Atlanta and its feckless operation of supposedly a private, for-profit business.
FAN-PLEX.
This redundant experiment has already LOST the taxpayers a great deal of money. They can't even balance their own books, let alone a business. Can you say 'jobs-program!'
Thanx a pant-load Shirley.

[1 2 3 4] next