On Friday December 11, beautiful weather, skateboarders, food trucks, and a ribbon cutting filled the day as the City of Atlanta welcomed a new addition to its parks family. The Arthur Langford Jr. Skatepark is now one of two of its kind located along the Atlanta BeltLine.
Community members came out in full force as more than 75 guests welcomed the park into the Joyland community. Mayor Kasim Reed and Atlanta First Lady Sarah-Elizabeth Reed, daughter of the late Arthur Langford, Jr. for whom the park is named, joined the Department of Parks and Recreation Commissioner Amy Phuong to speak on the occasion. Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. (ABI) President and CEO Paul Morris, Councilmember Joyce Sheperd, Coca-Cola Vice-President of Sales Operations Dawn Kirk, and Chuck Meadows, Executive Director of the Atlanta BeltLine Partnership shared their excitement on the occasion as well.
Named after the late Arthur Langford Jr., the park is in an area that historically has been underserved with public amenities. First Lady Sarah-Elizabeth Reed, joined by her mother and other members of the Langford family, spoke of her father’s legacy in the south Atlanta community and how his efforts have contributed to the transformations the area is now undergoing. The late Arthur Langford, Jr. served as a member of the Atlanta City Council and the Georgia Senate.
As part of an initiative to provide safe places for community members to come together, the City of Atlanta and the Department of Parks and Recreation, along with their other partners, are revitalizing outdoor spaces with an emphasis on city parks. ABI managed the park’s construction, while the Coca-Cola Company played a key role in helping fund the skatepark along with providing a mural. Coca-Cola will also be funding skate clinics through a Park Pride grant.
The ribbon cutting ceremony invited skaters and community members to help break in the new park. Historic Fourth Ward Skatepark, completed in 2011, was the first official City of Atlanta skatepark. The Arthur Langford Jr. Skatepark serves as a great alternative for those unable to travel that far, providing the residents on the south side of the city with more opportunities to get out and engage with their community. While the new park is catered to beginner skaters, it’s filled with numerous skater amenities, inviting all skill levels out to strut their stuff.
Once the Atlanta BeltLine is complete, there will be direct access to the skate park from the trail. With it now being officially open, the park is looking for neighbors like you to come out and really take ownership of these outdoor spaces.
