The plan to restore Piedmont Park in Midtown Atlanta — a $42 million effort to date — recently got a lot cooler.
In late spring, the new Legacy Fountain spewed its first sprays more than 20 feet into the air, just in time for kids and adults to run through the 70 jets and get some relief from the 90-plus degree temperatures. The fountain cost $2.2 million to build and sits on the highest point in the park. It overlooks two recently opened meadows and, by contrast, a view of the Midtown skyline.
We talked about the fountain and future plans for the park with Monica Thornton, vice president and chief marketing and development officer for Piedmont Park Conservancy, the nonprofit that raised money for the restoration and manages the day-to-day operation of the park.
Q: Who came up with the idea for a fountain?
A: The Piedmont Park master plan was formulated through a community vetting process — over 50 core constituencies participated. All of the amenities were decided through that effort.
Q: What is the meaning behind the name "legacy" for the fountain?
A: We were all talking about what we were trying to do here — create new parkland as well as sustain the original park for the next 100 years. We realized that this is our legacy.
Q: How much water does the fountain use?
A: 6,000 gallons in a 24-hour period. Like a pool, the water is chlorinated. It goes through the filter and is re-circulated over and over again.
Q: How has the fountain been received?
A: When we started the master plan back in 1995, there weren't as many families living in the neighborhood adjacent to the park. That dynamic has certainly changed. With the economy being what it is, the fountain has been a true reward for people who can come for free.
Q: Can this fountain rival Centennial Park's Olympic Rings?
A: We didn't build it to compete. Our intention is for the fountain to be yet another place where people come and recreate. We worked very closely with Centennial Olympic Park to learn everything we could.
Q: What does Piedmont Park mean to Atlanta?
A: The city bought the park in 1904 from the Piedmont Driving Club. From the very beginning, it is the place we come at our best times and at our lowest times. It is a place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, a place where so many people learn to ride a bike, a place that reminds us of the diversity that is Atlanta.
Q: What about the low points?
A: It has been a place for many candlelight vigils. When John Lennon was assassinated, when Princess Diana was killed, when Michael Jackson died — it is a place where people came together. Many trees in the park have been planted in memory of mothers and fathers.
Q: What is next for the conservancy?
A: We are still about $1.8 million from having the funds necessary to finish everything promised in Phase One. Phase Two is a $30 million campaign that includes playgrounds, a community garden, ball fields, a skate park and a carousel. We will be looking for individuals to help us with that, more so than companies and foundations.
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