Press Conference Scheduled for June 25th at 11am
Mayor Kasim Reed and the City of Atlanta’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs will announce on Friday a partnership with Atlanta Housing Authority (AHA), Georgia PTA and National PTA (Parent Teacher Association) for the upgrading, maintenance and beautification of Selena Sloan Butler Park.
Both the park and recreation center were severely damaged by the March 2008 tornado and it has since been closed. The 3.3 acre park will be reopened after work has been completed by the end of year. The estimated cost for renovation is $1.5 million.
“The revitalization of Selena Sloan Butler Park is a vital component of the overall Centers of Hope initiative and stands as a testament of what can be achieved through meaningful public and private partnerships,” said Mayor Kasim Reed. “Our cooperation is making a positive difference in the lives of Atlanta’s youth by providing them with better and more empowering alternatives after school,” added Mayor Reed.
The announcement will be made at a news conference on Friday, June 25, 2010 at Selena Sloan Butler Park at 11:00 am. Mayor Kasim Reed, Parks Commissioner George Dusenbury, City Council members, National PTA CEO Byron Garrett, and business and community leaders will attend. There also will be an unveiling of a new park sign in honor of Selena Sloan Butler. Selena Sloan Butler Park is located at 98 William Holmes Borders Dr. NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30312.
“Next spring the community will see Selena Butler Park come to life again,” said Commissioner George Dusenbury. “We recognize the importance of the Park to the community’s growth and vitality.”
The beautification initiative will breathe new life into one of the City’s parks in the historic Auburn Avenue district and will recognize Selena Sloan Butler, an Atlanta native, founder of the National Congress of Colored Parents and Teachers which later merged with its sister organization, the National Congress of Parents and Teachers. Butler was also one of the co-founders of the National Parent Teach Association.
“We are very pleased with the City of Atlanta for working with the Georgia PTA on the revitalization of Selena Sloan Butler Park,” said Byron V. Garrett, National PTA Chief Executive Officer. “She was a teacher, mother and one of the strongest child advocates of all time. She continues to be an inspiration to the millions of members of National PTA and all those who fight for children every day.”
The City will invest $500,000 to jumpstart the effort. National PTA will start its fundraising efforts with a $1,000 donation to the City of Atlanta to be used for the park’s annual maintenance costs. PTA also will lead volunteer efforts to maintain the park with flower and tree plantings and securing sponsors to help finance the revitalization.
The Atlanta Housing Authority (AHA) and its development partners, Integral Development LLC and Urban Realty Partners LLC, have been working with the City and the community in planning the redevelopment of the park, which is located adjacent to the new mixed-use, mixed-income community known as Auburn Pointe on the site of the former Grady Homes. In support of the revitalization, AHA, its development partners and H.J. Russell, owner of a site to be redeveloped across the street from Butler Park, have been actively seeking additional partners to support this important community initiative.
Once the projects are complete, the park will offer a multi-purpose sports field surrounded by a walking trail with exercise stations.
About the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs
The City of Atlanta’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs (DPRCA) enhances the lives of residents and visitors by offering programs, services and activities that encourage participation in safe, affordable and enriching recreational activities, leisure services and cultural experiences. The City’s park system consists of approximately 3,754 acres (four percent of the City’s land) inside the city limits, and 209 acres at Lake Allatoona. The parks vary from nature preserves to active city-wide greenspaces. The recreational and cultural facilities vary from small recreation centers to large cultural complexes, such as the Atlanta Civic Center and the Chastain Park Amphitheater.
About the Atlanta Housing Authority
Atlanta Housing Authority (AHA) is a diversified real estate company with a public mission and purpose, organized under the Housing Authorities laws of the State of Georgia. Since September 1994, AHA has been repositioning its properties and operations so that it can be an asset and benefit to its customers, neighborhoods and the City of Atlanta.
Since 1995, AHA has sponsored the creation and development of 16 mixed-use, mixed-income communities; leveraged $300 million of HOPE VI and other public housing development funds resulting in over $3 billion of economic investment; developed and restored over 1,000 acres to a higher and better use; caused crime to drop by better than 90% in the affected neighborhoods as a result of the mixed-income development and investment; and created best-in-class neighborhood public schools in partnership with Atlanta Public Schools.
About National PTA
National PTA® comprises millions of families, students, teachers, administrators, and business and community leaders devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of parent involvement in schools. PTA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit association that prides itself on being a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education. Membership in PTA is open to anyone who wants to be involved and make a difference for the education, health, and welfare of children and youth.
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