Woodruff Park recently celebrated the outcomes of its Southwest Airlines Heart of the Community grant, including the debut of new amenities that enliven the southwest end of the park.
In April 2016, Central Atlanta Progress, Southwest Airlines Co. and Project for Public Spaces announced a joint effort to maximize Woodruff Park’s unique potential to become a popular and exciting downtown gathering place. A catalytic grant from the Southwest Airlines Heart of the Community program, valued at $200,000 including monetary and technical support, enabled Central Atlanta Progress to implement its plan to improve perceptions, increase park usage, and enliven this key public space in the “heart” of Downtown Atlanta with the help of the people who work, study, live in, and care about downtown.
With guidance from Project for Public Spaces throughout the placemaking process, CAP engaged park stakeholders—from downtown residents, students and office workers to neighboring businesses and the local government—to build consensus for improvement priorities. Together, stakeholders reached the conclusion that the southwest end of the park stood to benefit from reinvigorated staffing, programming, and capital improvements.
Thanks to the support of Southwest Airlines, this section of the park now includes movable tables, chairs and umbrellas, planters, and updated landscaping, all of which align with the park’s new logo and visual identity system developed by local firm My Friend’s Nephew.
The focal point of park improvements is the Woodruff Park Game Cart, a brightly-colored mobile activity kiosk filled with recreational supplies, from chess sets and board games to whiffle ball and Frisbees. Park staff, recreation interns, and local volunteers maintain the Game Cart’s inventory and assist park visitors with checking out supplies to be used in the gaming area on the gazebo or on the park’s main lawn.
Woodruff Park Game Cart At-a-Glance Schedule*:
noon to 7 p.m. Tuesdays
noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday - Saturday
*Schedule is subject to change due to staffing, weather, and park closures.
Information: www.WoodruffPark.com.
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