Atkins Park

Atkins Park is an intown neighborhood of Atlanta, Georgia, nestled in the southeast corner of Virginia Highland neighborhood, west of Briarcliff Avenue and north of Ponce de Leon Avenue ("Ponce"). It consists of just three streets, St. Louis Place, St. Charles Place, and St. Augustine Place, as well as a sidewalk known as the "By-Way" that cuts north-south from Ponce through the three blocks, originally designed to give quicker access to the streetcar stop at Ponce.

History

Development of Atkins Park began in 1912 as a streetcar suburb of Atlanta, linked to downtown via the Nine-Mile Circle streetcar line. The original name was St. Louis Park, then was changed "to honor a family friend and mentor" Colonel John DeWitt Clinton Atkins, a representative of Tennessee in both the US and Confederate Congresses.^[2] A 27-acre (11 ha) section of Atkins Park has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1982.^[1]

Government

Atkins Park is an officially recognized neighborhood of Atlanta with its own neighborhood association, APNA. However, APNA has a permanent seat on the Virginia Highland Civic Association (VHCA). Atkins Park participates in the neighborhood activities of the Virginia Highland neighborhood largely as if it were part of Virginia Highland. The Virginia Highland security patrol FBAC, has covered Atkins Park since late 2010.

Park

New Highland Park, a small 0.41 acre park purchased by the VHCA in 2008 and established in 2011 as a park, is located on the site of a former library within the boundaries of Atkins Park. As of March 2011, there are plans to develop the park including a rain garden.

References

External Links

• Atlanta City Council ordinance establishing the historic district, including detailed history of Atkins Park