Former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin will soon join the ranks of high-profile politicians who have parks and roadways named after them across the city.
Atlanta City Council passed legislation Monday to rename Westside Reservoir Park to Shirley Clarke Franklin Park, and a portion of Central Avenue SW to Shirley Clarke Franklin Boulevard.
When Franklin was elected mayor in 2001, she not only became the first Black woman to serve as mayor in Atlanta, but the first of any major Southern city. More than 23 years later, Atlanta leaders embarked on a mission to decide how best to honor her contributions to the city.
Franklin told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Wednesday that she felt “humbled” by the honor.
“I certainly never expected it — I feel really honored by the city,” she said. “My years of service were from my heart without any expectation of reward.”
A commission established to explore how to pay homage to Franklin recommended renaming Atlanta’s newest and largest park on the west side of the city. It sits at the site of the former Bellwood Quarry.
The 280-acre Westside Reservoir Park — completed in 2021 — surrounds a 350-foot deep reservoir holding 2.4 billion gallons of water in case of emergency. Atlantans can take a stroll around the freshwater drinking supply on its 2.5 miles of trails located in the Grove Park neighborhood just north of Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway.
It’s a fitting dedication for Franklin, who may be best known as the “sewer mayor,” a title she gave herself when she took on the daunting task of overhauling Atlanta’s water system that, at the time, was found in violation of federal clean water requirements. During her term, she led a $4 billion revamp of the system.
The park is also connected to Atlanta’s iconic Beltline which wouldn’t have existed if not for the former mayor. Franklin helped launch the ambitious project during her tenure that’s become one of the city’s nationally-known features.
Credit: TNS
Credit: TNS
Dr. Robert Franklin Jr., former president of Morehouse College and chair of the commission determining how to honor Franklin, told City Council members this week that “such honors should be rare and well-considered” and the former mayor was more than deserving.
“We all know the extraordinary record of this historic mayor,” he said.
A portion of Central Avenue SW, starting from Decatur Street SE to Pryor Street SW, is also set to be renamed Shirley Clarke Franklin Boulevard.
During a public hearing held at City Hall in September, dozens of Franklin’s friends, colleagues and admirers lined up to share what they believe to be the mayor’s greatest accomplishment during her two terms in office.
Credit: AJC
Credit: AJC
Former U.N. Ambassador Andrew Young, now 92 years old, was among them. He described his friend and former staff member during his own mayoral administration as someone who “took over wherever she went.”
“There’s no limit that we can put on how we should honor Shirley Clarke Franklin,” he said.
He urged commission members to not forget the importance of a street renaming, as generations to come will learn about Franklin’s impact on the city after driving down her namesake boulevard.
Council member Andrea Boone, who spearheaded the legislation to create the commission, said Wednesday that the honors are overdue.
“Her influence extends beyond our city, resonating throughout the nation,” Boone said. “It’s with great pride that we permanently weave Mayor Franklin’s name into the fabric of Atlanta.”
Credit: JOHN SPINK / AJC
Credit: JOHN SPINK / AJC
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