Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, First Lady Sarah-Elizabeth Reed and the Department of Parks and Recreation joined the Atlanta BeltLine, Inc., Councilmember Joyce Sheperd and The Coca-Cola Company today to celebrate the new Arthur Langford Jr. skate park. The playscape is an addition to the existing Arthur Langford Recreation Center and Park in south Atlanta, named in honor of the late civil rights icon and father of First Lady Sarah-Elizabeth Reed.
The facility marks the second public skate park in the City of Atlanta and the first designed for beginner and moderately-skilled skaters.
“I am honored to join our partners today as we unveil the new skate park,” said Mayor Reed. “The Arthur Langford Jr. Park has great history and meaning not only in the Joyland community of south Atlanta, but also to my family. Atlanta young people now have a new, safe arena to be active and engage with their neighbors.”
Local skateboarders helped design the park which includes a variety of skating elements for all abilities and skill levels.
“Currently youth in the area have to travel pretty far to historic Fourth Ward to skate so selecting a site for the City’s second skate park on the south side of Atlanta was very important,” said Amy Phuong, Commissioner of the Department of Parks and Recreation. “We are proud that the youth in this community will have a wonderful skate park right in their own back yard, and that Arthur Langford Jr. Park will serve as a destination point for other skaters in the city.”
The City of Atlanta invested more than $800,000 in the skate park and other improvements. During the ceremony, south Atlanta residents also welcomed new outdoor exercise equipment donated by the Kendeda Fund through a Park Pride grant. Other key partners for the project include the Atlanta BeltLine, Inc and The Coca-Cola Company.
The Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. served as the implementation and construction management for the development of the skate park. In addition, the organization will host skateboarding clinics thanks to an additional grant from The Coca-Cola Company through the National Recreation and Park Association. Clinics will being March 2016.
“We are honored to have partnered with the Atlanta Parks and Recreation team to bring a second public skate park to the city,” stated Paul Morris, President and CEO of Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. “This project continues to advance our collective commitment to improving parks across the city as a resource that brings lasting value for residents of all ages, from all walks of life to enjoy.”
“The Coca‑Cola Company is committed to inspiring happy neighborhoods in Atlanta,” said Dawn Kirk, Vice President of Sales Operations for Coca-Cola Refreshments. “We believe people are happier when they have a space to come together with friends and neighbors and enjoy life in their community. These efforts further Coca-Cola’s commitment to the Atlanta community, which also includes supporting the City of Atlanta’s Centers for Hope and new mobile recreation unit, the Play Mobile. These are just a few ways we can all join in the mission of bringing neighbors together.”
