Information: apm.activecommunities.com/atlantadprca/home or 404-546-6788.
Although the warm weather is just about gone, the season for utilizing neighborhood parks and recreation activities is far from over.
Atlanta has a set of strategic goals that are a part of their community visioning for parks, which includes “providing safe parks, accessible recreational programs that emphasize learning and life skills, and cultural and art infused experiences,” according to the city’s website.
In my own Southwest Atlanta neighborhood, the Adamsville Recreation Center is one of the city’s 10 Centers of Hope, operated by the city in partnership with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta, and hosts a variety of events. Recent renovations have been made to the Anthony Flanagan Memorial Recreation Center adjacent to West Manor Park and more area improvements are on the way.
According to Amy Phuong, commissioner of the department of parks and recreation, the Arthur Langford Skate Park, located on the grounds of the Arthur Langford Recreation Center, will be unveiled in mid-December. “What is unique about this skate park is that it is for beginners to intermediate,” Phuong said. She explained that this will fill the need of people who are not as comfortable skateboarding with more experienced riders. The park will offer skateboarding clinics through one of their corporate sponsors.
Additionally, Phuong said the city is currently looking for additional funding to develop the two acres of land the city acquired at the corner of Fairburn Road and Benjamin E. Mays Dr. in Southwest Atlanta. They hope to finalize funding at the beginning of 2016 and they are working with Atlanta City Councilman C.T. Martin and District 10 on the preliminary concepts and design of the space.
If you’re an outdoor person, many of the parks have walking trails, exercise equipment, playgrounds, walking tracks, tennis courts, basketball courts, baseball fields, soccer fields, softball fields, etc.
If you’re in indoor person, there are a number of activities including arts and crafts classes, technology workshops and indoor sports such as exercise classes, aquatics and Zumba.
There are also opportunities to help others enjoy what the parks have to offer as well. The park system utilizes individual volunteers, from athletic coaches to tutors, as well as partnerships with corporations who have teams of volunteers. But volunteer opportunities are not just limited to adults.
“We have a unique partnership with Atlanta Public Schools,” Phuong said. “High school students can complete community service requirements and it’s a great way to complete the graduation requirement.”
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