John Howell Memorial Park Renovation
We're so excited to share...
VHCA Parks Committee has been engaging with residents, design experts, and other community stakeholders to reimagine John Howell Memorial Park, the signature park in Virginia-Highland. The project began in 2022 after City of Atlanta Parks & Rec identified the lower playground as a priority for stormwater improvements. After revising and vetting our larger concept plan in 2022, we engaged Frawley and Associates – the landscape architect of the park as it is today – to take the concepts and priorities of the community and develop a detailed design including tree impact, stormwater planning, and equipment details. We shared that plan with the community and are continuing to engage neighbors in final details, including selection of playground equipment.
In the latest plans, the playground improvements are centrally focused around replacing the larger play equipment with pieces in and around the Cunard Playground. This space will be expanded to include new swingsets, an area for younger children and a grand centerpiece play structure. The iconic firetruck honoring Station #19 will remain but move a few feet to the east. Finally, a new area with picnic tables for parents and caregivers (or birthday parties!) will sit between the playground and the new rainwater area. The committee’s goal is to replace all of the capacity and key elements currently found on the lower playground in this refreshed and expanded space.
Our focus this year shifts from planning and design to fundraising and execution. Based on our revised and vetted concepts, we now have a cost estimate for the project and have set a fundraising goal of $1.6M. We will seek any and all funding from public sources and have had preliminary conversations to best understand the options and complexity of each potential funding source.
We are deeply grateful for everyone's support of VHCA's initial launch in 2022 to fund the design and concept planning. Additionally, your support for VHCA's events - all of which are 100% volunteer run - have helped the community build the plans below so we might articulate our vision clearly as we now pursue funding. Above and beyond efforts to date, funding for this project will require significant support from businesses and individuals in our community, as well as the City through TSPLOST dollars and grant funding the Parks Committee will pursue.
Please consider a tax-deductible contribution today via the Donate button below. You may also mail a check to "Virginia-Highland Conservation League" at PO Box 8401 Station F Atlanta, GA 31106. All funds for renovation efforts are being collected by Virginia-Highland Conservation League.
Check out the Latest Plans
You can also explore our first Iterations in Concept Planning from January 2023 and November 2022.
Identified Areas of Improvement
Guiding principles for the Virginia-Highland Civic Association Parks Committee have required a deliberative and explorative approach to this process. As we have considered a wide range of options within known constraints, there have been some clear areas where feedback and ideas have been consistent. We hope you will agree as well. We remain open to exploring new ideas as we continue to refine these concepts. Below is a list of known requirements and broadly accepted improvements:
- Revitalization of the Great Lawn so that it is a lush and smooth surface and honor the story of the homes that once stood there
- Maintain the size of the Great Lawn so its many uses may continue, from flying a kite to lounging in front of next year's Summerfest line up
- New playgrounds for 2-5 year olds, 5-12 year olds, and potentially equipment for adults
- Rainwater solution for the area of the existing lower playground
- No changes to the volleyball court
- In the round area encircled by donor bricks near Barnett (aka the Oval/Ellipse), install a rubberized surface or astroturf
- Full assessment of all trees to support a healthy tree canopy for generations to come
- Fix physically broken elements (water lines to fountains, fence posts, benches, etc)
- An open, airy connection between upper and lower areas of the park that includes a slide and stairs
- Pickleball as a use does not fit well into the existing elevations in JHP and an activated use of that kind would likely impact the experience of a nature-rich park
From walks under the trees to impromptu picnics, live music, birthday parties to workouts, John Howell Park has been an integral part of Virginia-Highland for generations.
How to Support the Effort
Please join us in our effort to revitalize our community’s signature park. We have now moved beyond planning and design and are moving into execution. We invite you to continue tracking our progress here at vahi.org, as well as in our monthly VHCA board meetings, which are open to the public. Your engagement and support will ensure John Howell Memorial Park remains a thriving part of our vibrant neighborhood.
If you would like to contribute financially, please consider a tax-deductible contribution today via the Donate button below. You may also mail a check to "Virginia-Highland Conservation League" at PO Box 8401 Station F Atlanta, GA 31106. All funds for renovation efforts are being collected by Virginia-Highland Conservation League.
Sign up to be a member and The Voice for updates and contact us at [email protected] with your contact information if you would like us to reach out during our upcoming fundraising drive.
Fundraising Kickoff Letter
Explore the story of how John Howell Park came into existence and how fundraising now is part of a long story of engaged and focused citizens working to make this park a reality.
Community Survey
The survey has completed. We appreciate all of your input into this project.
Virginia Park 485
Explore original Voice issues from 1973 announcing the purchase of the land and the official groundbreaking of a new park after the community successfully fended off I-485 construction through what is now Virginia-Highland.