Don’t we all know I love Atlanta…. especially our greenspaces!
This City of Trees is my home and I intend to be involved in making it the best it can be.
Through my ventures around our city, enjoying our parks and meeting new people, I’ve come across a new get-a-way! In southwest Atlanta, an area I rarely venture, due highly to Atlanta’s lack of adequate transportation, I found an amazing park.
Our city has been divided by our highways and many communities no longer have access to the necessities they need. Areas such as Adamsville and the surrounding neighbors are almost desolate because people are stuck. No transportation equals no food, no employment opportunities, poorly ranking schools, and a host of other struggles for this community and ones nearby. BUT unfortunately, this isn’t new news, we’ve known this for too long and we just can’t worry. Luckily, my love, the Atlanta BeltLine, will solve many of these issues! (Don’t forget to vote ATL on July 31st!)
So back to the good news…
South west Atlanta has a secret it’s been keeping from us all! Collier Park and Recreation Center is amazing!!
The hidden secret, Collier Park
Collier Park Rec Center Art: A Map of ATL
Map Key, close-up
I had a meeting with a teen camp director and the meeting held much more of an interest than I would have assumed.
What I found was beauty: an amazing park, full of resources, and a community that unites to support their youth. First the resources: the park has tennis and basketball courts and courts. There is an outdoor fitness area that includes tons of information about healthy eating and ways to support a healthy life style. You’ll also find a great playground for your kids and a large, tree covered area for relaxing and eating. I was so blessed to see this diamond in the ruff.
The Collier Recreation Center which host the teen camp I mentioned is amazing also. There is an indoor workout facility, ping-pong tables and a standard kitchen. As I mentioned, I was working with the Teen Camp, specifically the Atlanta Teen Leaders Summer of Service Learning Camp! These youth are provided a camp throughout the summer where they participate in amazing projects all summer long. Many projects are self-directed and others are part of the program for leadership and community development. the most exciting part to this camp is that the youth are provided a stipend for their participation. These youth work full-time and are provided an opportunity to earn money, learn amazing life and job skills, all within their community. A community which is largely unable to provide these opportunities without this park and camp program. THANK-YOU Atlanta Workforce Development Authority for the funds to provide a paid camp for these youth and THANK-YOU City of Atlanta Office of Recreation for developing and overseeing this and similar camps throughout the city.
So why is this blog written to you Mr. Mayor Kasim Reed?! Because I have a request for you. I know how much you love us and how much you love these teens, BUT tell me why has the dumpster been removed the Collier Recreation Center? With all the beauty you see in these pictures, guess what else you see there- TRASH.
Only steps away from this amazing facility, where these youth are working every day to take care of their community, sit bags of trash- surrounded by a fence. Unfortunately, the youth have no dumpster to place trash within. Instead they are forced to clean their beautiful park and put trash within this fence.
Mr. Mayor Kasim Reed I am requesting, with the support of all our readers, twitter followers, and greenspace lovers, that you IMMEDIATELY put a dumpster AND a recycling bin appropriately near the facility.
ATLgreenspace lovers and supporters I know you agree! Contact the Mayor here and let him know what we need!
Our loved Mayor Shirley Franklin supported this facility and we know you wish to do the same.
Here’s just one example of this community’s beauty and why they deserve all of our support and involvement.
“Be the Star you Wish to See”
“Music is Soul”
“Hard Work Pays Off”
“Count Your Blessings Not Your Problems”
“Team Work”
“Friendship is Priceless$”
“Only God Can Judge Me”
These pictures were taken at the site of the closed projects off MLK. The community churches and organizations came together to write messages of hope on the doors of this abandoned facility. The spirit of community overwhelmed me as I walked with a friendly resident I met that day.
Thank you residents of Adamsville and keep up the good work!
I will let you all know when the Mayor takes the appropriate steps to improve this facility!
As always- thanks for reading and enjoying your greenspaces ATL!
-H
It’s the Life of a Super Social Worker
@firestarteratl
@greenspacesATL
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Wait. President Obama came to Collier Heights Rec Center back in January 2009???? I bet we had a dumpster then. ha.
so cool!!!!
http://www.collierpark.us/44th_president_obama_celebration_jan_20th
Thank you Mr. Mayor! A new dumpster was delivered to the site only days after the blog went up!