Legacy Park: A Vision for Community, Conservation, and Connection

Legacy Park is more than just a green space; it's a testament to how community building and environmental stewardship can thrive together. Located in Decatur, Georgia, this 77-acre park is a bold vision for a thriving, inclusive city. Once the site of the United Methodist Children’s Home, Legacy Park now stands as a vibrant example of how a community can repurpose land to meet diverse needs, including affordable housing, environmental preservation, and community engagement.

From Children's Home to Community Hub

From 1873 to 2017, the Legacy Park property served as the United Methodist Children’s Home, providing safe housing, natural space, recreation, and a caring community for thousands of Georgia’s foster youth. Recognizing that children thrive better in home settings, the Children’s Home decided to sell the 500 South Columbia Drive property. The City of Decatur purchased the land with a commitment to continue its legacy of community service.

Rather than imposing a plan, the City of Decatur engaged in an extensive civic process to gather feedback from thousands of residents. This community input shaped a Master Plan that ensures Legacy Park remains a welcoming and engaging space for all. Legacy Decatur, originally founded in 2014 as a fiscal agent for grassroots organizations, was the ideal fit to implement the Master Plan, given its history of collaboration and problem-solving.

A Multifaceted Mission

Legacy Decatur is the nonprofit steward of Legacy Park, dedicated to environmental preservation and education, recreation, affordable housing, and inclusive community building. These goals, often seen as contradictory, are woven together to strengthen relationships between neighbors who work together to be better stewards of the natural environment.

Key Features and Initiatives

Legacy Park boasts a diverse array of features and initiatives that contribute to its multifaceted mission:

Conservation Area: A 22-acre conservation area includes a pond, wetlands, nature trails, woodlands, and meadows. This urban greenspace provides vital habitat for wildlife and improves water and air quality.
Affordable Housing: In 2024, construction began on 132 affordable housing units through the Decatur Housing Authority, providing homes for low- and middle-income residents, including teachers, firefighters, and local business employees.
Creative Village: The Creative Village houses artist studios, fostering artistic expression and community engagement.
Community Garden: Global Growers operates a two-acre community garden for refugee growers, one of their 10 growing sites across the Atlanta Metro.
Ability Garden: Trellis Horticultural Therapy Alliance operates an Ability Garden for veterans and those with physical disabilities.
Nonprofit Partnerships: Legacy Park is home to 17 nonprofit partners, whose expertise and programming further the park's mission.

Impactful Programs and Partnerships

Legacy Park's success is driven by its collaborative partnerships with various nonprofit organizations, each contributing unique programs and services to the community:

Refugee Women's Network: Offers social and economic adjustment services for refugee families, including a commercial kitchen at Legacy Park for their Chefs Club entrepreneurial catering program.
L’Arche Atlanta: Has two homes for adults with and without developmental disabilities in Decatur and hosts inclusive events at Legacy Park.
Paint Love: Offers trauma-informed, intergenerational art programming.
Decatur Arts Alliance: Operates seven artist studios, as well as art classes and gallery space.
Frank Hamilton School: Hosts bluegrass and old-time music classes and performances.
Global Spokes: Fixes donated bikes to donate to low-income folks, especially refugees.
Grief House: Weaves grief into life with art, nature, and group gatherings.
Wild Nest Bird Rehab: Cares for approximately 1,500 injured and orphaned birds each year, releasing many at Legacy Park.
Compassionate Atlanta: Promotes compassion to self, community, and systems through their work in inter-faith, LGBTQIA, immigration, sustainability, and health.
Decatur Book Festival: Hosts a renowned book festival that promotes creative expression and literacy.
Decatur Education Foundation: Supports students and their families with food, curriculum support, mental health services, and teacher grants.
Decatur Land Trust: Works to address the city’s loss of affordable homes and low-to-moderate-income residents in the City of Decatur.
Georgia Arborist Association: Offers arborist education and safety training.

Addressing Community Needs

Legacy Park directly addresses pressing community needs by:

Preserving the Environment: Recognizing the value and vulnerability of natural assets, Legacy Park's woodland canopy provides shade, absorbs heat, and filters pollutants. Its wetlands absorb overflowing water, preventing flooding.
Increasing Affordable Housing: The Decatur Housing Authority's 132 apartments will allow essential workers to live in the community they serve.
Promoting Community Building: Legacy Park combats isolation and loneliness by providing spaces for healthy activity, such as the state-of-the-art track and field. Public restrooms encourage longer outdoor visits. The Creative Village introduces people to new hobbies and friends.

Volunteerism: The Heart of Legacy Park

Volunteers are essential to Legacy Park's operations. In 2024, over 150 volunteers helped to remove invasive plants, reintroduce wetland plants, refinish the chapel hardwood floors, paint community spaces, and mulch trees.

A typical volunteer day might involve:

Invasive Plant Removal: Hand-pulling invasive plants to restore the woodlands.
Mulching Trees: Protecting tree roots and improving soil health.
Building and Repair: Constructing picnic tables, installing bike racks, and repairing historic buildings.
Preparing Spaces: Cleaning, painting, and preparing buildings for incoming nonprofit organizations.

Successes and Highlights

One of the biggest highlights of the past year was the transformation of the wetland. With volunteer support, over 4,000 pounds of garbage were removed, invasive species were cleared, and 300 native plants were planted. This has significantly improved the health of the ecosystem, filtering pollutants, preventing erosion, and providing a sustainable food source for wildlife.

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Looking Ahead to 2025

In 2025, Legacy Park is excited to increase programming. The new track and field is already attracting new visitors. This space welcomes a new constituency to fall in love with this space.

Getting Involved

There are many ways to support Legacy Park:

Visit: Explore the trails, use the track, or attend an event.
Spread the Word: Tell friends about Legacy Park.
Volunteer: Join a volunteer day to help maintain the park's beauty.
Donate: Provide resources to sustain the park's work.

Legacy Park is redefining what it means to build a thriving, inclusive city. By prioritizing environmental stewardship, affordable housing, and community engagement, Legacy Park is creating a future where everyone belongs. Student Legacy Park in Corvallis, Oregon, offers a vibrant hub of recreational activities and wellness opportunities for members of the Oregon State University community. With access to top-notch facilities like Dixon Recreation Center and McAlexander Fieldhouse, individuals can engage in a diverse range of fitness classes, sports programs, and adventure experiences. From becoming a certified mountaineer to participating in competitive intramural sports or embarking on outdoor expeditions through the Adventure Leadership Institute, Student Legacy Park fosters a sense of community, personal growth, and well-being.

Legacy Park Residential: A Unique Living Experience

Legacy Park Residential in Searcy, Arkansas, offers a unique opportunity for Harding University alumni, employees, and friends to live within the borders of the university's campus. Conceived in 2007, Legacy Park Residential includes student housing and individually owned private homes. Residents can enjoy access to university amenities such as the fitness center, restaurants, and events. The final Phase V of Legacy Park Residential, Legacy Park Commons, is a twelve-unit condominium project.

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