First Park Opens In Atlanta’s English Avenue Neighborhood

Lindsay Street Park has opened in Atlanta.

CANDACE WHEELER / WABE

Lindsay Street Park has opened in Atlanta.

It is the first park in the city’s troubled English Avenue neighborhood.

“We have a mission to expand green space throughout the city of Atlanta and to place a park as close to all of the citizens of Atlanta as we can,” said Mayor Kasim Reed.

The park has been built on six abandoned lots. In addition to support from Invest Atlanta, the city’s economic development arm, several companies and organizations helped bring the park to fruition. They include the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, the Conservation Fund, the U-Haul Corporation and Georgia Power.

Just last month, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded the city a $30 million grant to help revitalize several neighborhoods in west Atlanta including English Avenue and Vine City.

Crime and drug activity have plagued the area for decades. In the last few months, the U.S. Attorney’s office led a multi-jurisdictional effort to clean up the area by making dozens of arrests and tearing down abandoned properties.