Piedmont Park Atlanta
In 1887, Benjamin Walker sold 189 acres of land to the Gentleman's Driving Club (which is now known as the Piedmont Driving Club).
Although the property was supposed to be used to create an exclusive club and horse racing grounds, the new owners leased the land to the Piedmont Exposition Company, which created a fairgrounds and exposition area named Piedmont Park.
The best-known exposition held at the park was the Cotton States International Exposition of 1895, which was essentially a World's Fair. This event helped turn the park into what it is today. The ball fields were originally a horse racetrack, and a nearby spring was excavated to create Lake Clara Meer, where residents once swam and sunbathed.
When the city of Atlanta purchased the park in 1904, it was considered too far from the city to be useful to most of its citizens. But with the expansion and growth of the city, Piedmont Park has become a welcome green space for city residents. In 1909, the sons of Frederick Law Olmsted (who designed Central Park in New York City) were hired to create a master plan for the park. But the plan was never fully implemented due to funding issues. Recent renovations and expansions taken from the Olmsted's plan have made the park a more beautiful resource for the community.
Today, Piedmont Park is a much-needed oasis in Midtown where ATLANTAboys (as well as their straight friends and family) can relax and play. Although it is relatively quiet in the winter, during the summer months you'll see folks doing everything from playing volleyball, football, soccer, and other sports to simply enjoying a game of catch with their dogs or attending a festival.
At over 180 acres, Piedmont Park is Atlanta's largest park and has played host to many celebrities--from John Philip Sousa in 1895 to Oprah Winfrey in 2004.
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