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afternoon in Piedmont Park in Atlanta. Photo by Mike on

Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Piedmont Park

Piedmont Park is an urban park in Atlanta, Georgia, located about 1 mile northeast of Downtown, between the Midtown and Virginia Highland neighbourhoods.

The park has a rich history spanning nearly two centuries. Since 1822, Piedmont Park has continuously evolved and changed hands.

The park has also undergone several transformations. It first began as a forest, then a farm, then a fairground and suburban park, and finally to the urban park that it is today.

The park is home to various annual celebrations and events. These include Atlanta Pride Festival, the Atlanta Jazz Festival, the Atlanta Dogwood Festival, Music Midtown, Atlanta Black Pride, and Festival Peachtree Latino.

Piedmont Park also served as an athletic centre for the city. Atlanta鈥檚 first professional baseball team, the Atlanta Crackers, played in the park from 1902 to 1904.

Let鈥檚 learn the Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Piedmont Park

1. Originally the Park was Used for Farm Activities and Residential Area

The land was originally owned by Dr Benjamin Walker. He purchased the 189 acres in the 1830s from a man who had won the land in the land lottery. Dr Benjamin used it as his out-of-town farm and residence.

He farmed the land until he sold the land to the Gentleman鈥檚 Driving Club which is established as Piedmont Driving Club. The club planned to form an exclusive club and racing ground for horse enthusiasts.

The driving club agreed with the Piedmont Exposition Company to use the grounds around the track as exposition space. Charles A. Collier, a prominent Atlanta businessman and former lawyer was president of the company. Soon after the main building, the grandstands, and clubhouse were built for the track.

2. Piedmont Exposition was the First Exposition to be Held in the Park

Piedmont Park. Photo by Lars Juhl Jensen on

Piedmont Exposition opened on 1887 October 10. The main building constructed for the Exposition was 570 feet long and 126 feet wide. The building had two stories high.

When the exposition was opened for the first it was attended by 20,000 visitors. A variety of items was shown off by the exhibitors, such as works of art, and local raw materials like Manganese marble and woodwork.

The Cotton States and International Exposition was a World鈥檚 Fair. The purpose of the exposition was to promote all the Southern cotton states and encourage good relations and trade with the international community. The Cotton States and International Exposition ran for 100 days, featured 6,000 exhibits, and attracted 800,000 visitors.

3. The Park Serves as an Athletic Centre for the City

Over the years, the park has served as an athletic centre for the city. Atlanta鈥檚 first professional baseball team, the Atlanta Crackers, played in the park from 1902 to 1904.

Several important intercollegiate rivalries were also forged in the park including the University of Georgia vs. Georgia Tech baseball rivalry and Georgia versus Auburn football which has been called the 鈥淒eep South鈥檚 Oldest Rivalry鈥�.

The Sharon E. Lester Tennis Centre at Piedmont Park is a fully staffed, public facility with 12 lighted hard courts, offering leagues, lessons, and supplies.

The Active Oval has two softball fields, two soccer fields, and two beach volleyball courts, all ringed by a dirt-running path. Kickball leagues also use softball fields.

4. There were Two Previous Unsuccessful Attempts to Sell

Meadow in Piedmont Park. Photo by Sinan on

In 1887 and 1894, the owners of Piedmont Park considered selling it to the City of Atlanta. However, it was the purchase was a tough sell for various reasons. The park was considered too far away from the city although the price for the land was fair.

Secondly, Atlanta already owned Grant Park and didn鈥檛 see the need for another park. The third attempt to sell the park was successful. On June 15, 1904, the City of Atlanta accepted to purchase Piedmont Park.

The city extended its city limits north to encompass the park acreage. As well as several developing neighbourhoods between West Peachtree Street and North Highland Avenue.

5. Fishing is Permitted in Piedmont鈥檚 Lake

The lake was created in 1887 from a spring that flowed into the park. Piedmont lake was enlarged to its current size of 11.5 acres in 1895.

The lake is located in the southeast part of the park. Fishing is permitted in the lake, which is stocked with largemouth bass, crappie, bream, and catfish. A 2002 renovation of the lake added a new bridge connecting two bodies of water and three fishing piers located around the lake.

6. Piedmont Park was Affected by the 2008 Drought

Midtown Atlanta skyline from Piedmont Park. Photo by Thomson200 on

The 2008 extreme drought affected Piedmont Park activities. In January 2008, the city officials announced that the Peachtree Road Race, Atlanta Pride Festival, the Atlanta Jazz Festival and the Dogwood Festival would not be held in the park.

However, some festivals which did not use green space were still allowed. The Atlanta Arts Festival ran from September 12鈥�14, 2008, and utilized only paved areas.

Some festivals were temporarily moved to alternate venues, such as Centennial Olympic Park. However, in 2010, several events returned to Piedmont Park, including the Dogwood Festival, the Jazz Festival, and Screen on the Green. This was after the end of the drought in 2009.

7. Dogs are Permitted in Piedmont Park

Visitors can comfortably go along with their dogs in Piedmont Park. Owners must clean up after their dogs. The park has a half-dozen plastic bag dispensing stations to facilitate this.

 Several of the park鈥檚 water fountains also have a ground-level basin for dogs to use. Just north of the Park Road entrance bridge are two fenced-in Dog Parks that equal three acres where friendly dogs (and their owners) can cavort with each other off-leash.

Additionally, brand new, vastly expanded parks for small and large dogs were opened in April 2011.

8. The Park is home to various Annual Celebrations and Events

Piedmont Park was designed by the same man who designed Central Park. Photo by Clinton Steeds on

There are various events held in the park. These include Atlanta Pride Festival, the Atlanta Jazz Festival, the Atlanta Dogwood Festival, Music Midtown, Atlanta Black Pride, and Festival Peachtree Latino. A summer series of classic films, Screen on the Green, is also aired in the park for residents.

On the weekend and holidays, the park comes alive with music, intramural sports, and fun festivities. In 2004, Georgia Shakespeare Festival added an annual series of free performances entitled 鈥淪hake on the Lake鈥� with Lake Clara Meer as a backdrop.

9. Piedmont Park Features a Peace Monument

The Peace Monument was dedicated in the park, near the 14th Street gate. It was designed by Allen George Newman and erected in 1911 by members of the Old Guard of the Gate City Guard. A Confederate-era militia, as a show of national unity in the years following the American Civil War.

The monument features the 鈥渁ngel of peace鈥� holding an olive branch. Standing over a Confederate soldier who has a gun in his hands, telling the soldier that peace has been proclaimed.

The monument has been the subject of controversy recently, with some calling for its removal as a symbol of the Lost Cause of the Confederacy.

10. The Piedmont Park Conservancy was Founded to Revitalize the Rapidly Deteriorating Park

Main Entrance to Piedmont Park Atlanta. Photo by Robert Neff on

Increasing maintenance needs began to conflict with decreasing city budgets, resulting in a deteriorating park. In 1989, concerned citizens and civic leaders formed the Piedmont Park Conservancy.

 It began to take an increasing role in the preservation and development of the park. The conservancy commissioned a master plan (1994), funded off-duty policemen and maintenance workers, and sponsored additional building restorations.

 Today, Piedmont Park remains one of the city鈥檚 most beautiful green spaces and a gathering place for thousands during the frequent special events, festivals, and exhibits held there.