Piedmont Park (Atlanta, Georgia)

 park, NRHP - National Register of Historic Places

This is Piedmont Park, an urban park east of Midtown in Atlanta. The area, initially a forest, was turned into farmland in 1834. The land was owned by Benjamin Walker from 1857 until 1887, when he sold it to the Piedmont Driving Club, and it was used for exhibition space. The Piedmont Exposition (October 10-22, 1887) and the Cotton States and International Exposition (September 18-December 31, 1895) were held in the area while it was in private ownership. The City of Atlanta purchased the property and brought it into the city limits in 1904. A master plan for the park, which was never fully implemented, was developed in 1909-1910 by Carey and Frederick Olmsted, Jr. (sons of famed park designer Frederick Law Olmsted). The plan had a great effect on development in the area surrounding the park.

The Piedmont Park Conservancy, in charge of the park's improvements, daily maintenance, and security, was founded in 1989 after the park had been deteriorating for some time. From 2008 until 2011, Piedmont Park underwent a $72,000,000 expansion within the northwest portion of the park.

Piedmont Park has an area of 189 acres (75 hectares). It has several miles of paved paths and picnic shelters and is also a popular space for organised sports. Lake Clara Meer is located in the park, as well as two fenced-in dog parks. Piedmont Park also hosts several annual celebrations and events. It is open every day from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM.

Piedmont Park was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 13, 1976.

www.piedmontpark.org/