2019 Event Features Live Jazz and Celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Washington Park
The Atlanta BeltLine Partnership invites everyone out to attend this year’s free Washington Park Jamboree, taking place Saturday, May 11, 3 to 8 pm. This is the Partnership’s fifth year hosting the free, family-oriented health and fitness festival at this historic park on the Westside. This year’s event is especially noteworthy as 2019 marks the 100th anniversary of Washington Park, Atlanta’s first park for African Americans. Hosting the celebration along with the Partnership are Atlanta City Councilmembers Michael Julian Bond (Post 1, At Large) and Antonio Brown (District 3) and the Conservancy at Historic Washington Park.
The day gets started at 3 pm with a one-hour celebration of the history of Washington Park, including presentation of a proclamation from Fulton County noting the park’s historic significance and the role the Conservancy has played protecting the park’s heritage.
The celebration will be followed by the traditional Jamboree Play Day featuring demonstrations with Atlanta ContactPoint instructors from the Partnership’s Atlanta BeltLine Free Fitness program. Trained coaches will also be on hand providing instruction to kids across a variety of sports, including soccer, golf, lacrosse, kickball and dodgeball.
Kaiser Permanente of Georgia’s mobile health van will be onsite and the Diabetes Association of Atlanta will also conduct health screenings. There will also be a marketplace including other healthcare organizations, local businesses and nonprofits, and a food truck.
For the second year in a row, attendees will be treated to live jazz performances from 4 to 8 pm as part of the Atlanta Jazz Festival’s Neighborhood Jazz Series. Saturday’s performers will be Groove Centric and Julie Dexter.
“As the city’s first park for African Americans, Washington Park is one of Atlanta’s greenspace treasures,” said ABP Executive Director Rob Brawner. “We are honored to celebrate the park’s Centennial at this year’s Jamboree and again enjoy live jazz from the Atlanta Jazz Festival. We look forward to seeing many long-time friends and meeting some new ones on Saturday. It’s exciting to know the Westside Trail will provide easy, convenient access to the festival for residents of our historic westside communities.”
“We welcome everyone to Historic Washington Park, and we appreciate the extraordinary partnership this Centennial Celebration is bringing together,” said Christi Jackson, Board Chair of the Conservancy at Historic Washington Park. “We believe in community preservation and cultural acknowledgement – and this unique combination of the arts, history, community, and the environment is helping us to highlight the one-of-a-kind national, state, and local treasure Washington Park is.”
“I am truly excited to help co-host this festival with Councilmember Bond, the Conservancy at Historic Washington Park and the Atlanta BeltLine Partnership,” said Atlanta City Councilmember Antonio Brown (District 3). “This is the kind of memory-making event I want all our citizens to have the opportunity to experience. This festival is an example of all we have to offer in our communities. I can think of no better place for us to showcase our history and spirit than at this Centennial commemoration of Washington Park right alongside the new traditions being forged through the Beltline Jamboree and the Jazz Festival.”
“I welcome everyone to come out to join in the celebration, to hear the jazz, take part in the festivities and the food, for 100 Years of Washington Park,” said Atlanta City Councilmember Michael Julian Bond (Post 1, At Large).
The Partnership appreciates the generous support of 2019 Jamboree Platinum Sponsors Kaiser Permanente of Georgia and Morgens West Foundation and Silver Sponsor Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. The Partnership is proud to partner once again with Atlanta ContactPoint, a nonprofit that engages children and adults through the power of play.
