For some Georgians, Friday’s winter storm meant having to navigate slick roads or change their travel plans.
For others, the primary concerns were how to best spend the snow day and where to find a sled.
“I really thought about getting a cardboard box,” said Laurel Brigham. “That or a baking sheet.”
As thick flakes fell to the ground on Friday morning, she and husband Will Brigham were headed to Piedmont Park. With coffees in hand, the sled-less couple would soon join the hundreds of people who had gathered at the park to take full advantage of a rare Atlanta snow day.
“We haven’t had a snow like this in a while,” Laurel Brigham said. “Honestly, I just want to see people having fun sledding.”
Credit: Ben Gray for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Credit: Ben Gray for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
One of those people was Midtown High School student Colin Kovaz.
“That’s where the hills are,” he said, dragging a bright neon orange sled behind him as he walked over a snowy sidewalk toward the park. The sled gets little use, he said. But after it sat in his garage for years, and with school closed for the day, it was time to take advantage.
His sled was one of many at the park, along with skis, snowboards, tubes and other items people had brought as makeshift luges. That included cardboard boxes, one of which Tim Hunter had fished from his basement. Hunter was celebrating his 26th birthday under unexpected circumstances. Not only had the amount of snow surprised him, but he was joined by his girlfriend Kate Myers.
With fires raging in Southern California, Myers fled her home in Los Angeles and arrived in Atlanta on Thursday afternoon.
“I flew in yesterday to evacuate because where I live is on fire and I woke up to snow. So it’s a pretty insane contrast,” she said. “People were freaking out about the snow and I was like, ‘Oh, it’s probably going to be like two inches.’ But this is more than I expected.”
“So now I might get stuck here,” she said with a laugh.
They described the scene as joyous, with children reveling in the fresh powder and snowboarders shredding down the small slope.
Most Georgia schools gave children the day off while others shifted to remote learning. Children of all ages took advantage, and many metro Atlantans of all ages were spellbound by the snow. There were countless snowball fights. A few traveled across the empty streets of Midtown Atlanta on skis.
Credit: Pete Corson / AJC
Credit: Pete Corson / AJC
Many metro Atlantans who hail from places where there is less snow were delighted.
“First time seeing snow all my years! I’ve been by the window for the past two hours being my own photographer/videographer,” said Javaun Miller, 26, who grew up in South Florida and moved to Atlanta five years ago.
Credit: Contributed
Credit: Contributed
In Athens, the football field at Sanford Stadium on the University of Georgia campus had turned white by 9 a.m. Dozens of people were seen on campus of the state’s flagship public university, including on North Campus near the iconic Arch and around the stadium at the heart of campus.
“I literally can’t believe we’re out here,” one woman told two friends during their walk across Sanford Drive Bridge amid heavy snowfall.
Back in Piedmont Park, Preston Ehlers, 32, marveled at the conditions. He has gone snowboarding in Colorado and Canada. Even comparing his Friday experience to his time on some of the best mountains in North America, he said the Atlanta conditions were excellent.
“I think it’s just as good. Because you’re in the middle of Atlanta, he said. “I guess you can only describe it as a snow day. It’s like your own city transformed for just a day and it makes it better.”
As some built human-sized snowmen, and as the occasional impromptu snowball fight broke out, Ian Mendelson watched his 4- and 10-year-old sons enjoy the rare snowfall. Mendelson had bought two sleds from Costco years ago; it was the first time they were being put to use, and the first time his 4-year-old had experienced a snow day.
“I had to temper his expectations last night saying, ‘It’s only going to be one or two inches and I don’t think you’ll be able to go sledding,’” Mendelson said. “So when he woke up and saw there was a lot of snow he flipped out. He was so excited.”
Staff writer Fletcher Page contributed to this report.
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