FRAMEWORK
Case Study: Historic Fourth Ward Park, Atlanta, GA Reimaging Parks as Stormwater Infrastructure
Splash Pad at Historic Fourth Ward Park, Altanta, GA; Image by Christopher T. Mar n
The func on of Historic Fourth Ward Park (HFWP) can be outlined rather simply, the site serves as a neighborhood park and stormwater deten on area. However, the history of the site and complexity of its design and func on has made the park a new jewel of the Atlanta park system. The site is located adjacent to the Atlanta Beltline which spurred redevelopment interests in the Old Fourth Ward area including development of the park. The loca on was first known in the 1860s as Ponce de Leon Springs, a representa ve name for the site otherwise known as John Armistead’s beech grove which was two miles from downtown Atlanta. The early owner took advantage of the springs as a revitalizing source by charging 10-cents per visit and included transporta on via an omnibus from downtown. It was not un l the 1930’s that the area retained the name ‘Old Fourth Ward’ when the number of wards were reduced across the city. In 1903, the Ponce de Leon Amusement Park opened on the northern area of the future park site and included a theater, merry-go-round, penny arcade and restaurants. Adding to the a rac on of the area, the Ponce de Leon Ballpark opened in 1907 to the north of the current park. The ballpark hosted the Atlanta Crackers and Black Crackers un l the 1960s, both predecessors to the current
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Atlanta Braves. Much of the current park area served as parking lot over the next several decades.8 Further development included the Sears Roebuck’s Southern Regional Distribu on Center which was built over the springs. The 2.1 million SF facility was the largest brick building by size in the Southeastern U.S. and operated un l 1987. Upon opening of the facility, Sears
1947 Aerial of northern area of park site. Large bulding is current Ponce City Market, Parking lot south of Ponce de Leon Blvd. is the northern extent of park. Aerial courtesy of Historic Fourth Ward Park Conservancy.
North Capital Boulevard Park Master Plan Study
