Selena S. Butler Park Gets $1.6 Million Renovation

Selena Sloan Butler Park is getting a much-needed makeover.

The 3.36-acre park, which opened in the 1960s and is named for the civil rights activist and National Parent-Teacher Association co-founder, certainly saw better days.

But a national non-profit group, working with city parks and recreation officials, say its best days lay ahead.

The group, the National Park and Recreation Association, along with the city's parks and recreation department and housing authority have partnered to give the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood park a $1.6 million renovation.

NPRA officials, along with community activists and politicians U.S. Rep. John Lewis and Atlanta City Councilman Kwanza Hall, made it official Wednesday with a groundbreaking ceremony at the park.

The changes include:

• An active use plaza featuring picnic tables, park benches, alternative outdoor games, game tables, trash bins
• Picnic/Grill area
• Modern playground equipment
• New basketball and tennis courts
• Corner plaza
• Multi-purpose field
• Community garden
• Flower garden

The renovations are slated to be completed by November.

The attention Butler Park is getting is part of NPRA's drive to focus on urban park renovations and show how transformative they can be to a community.