Town converts parcel into downtown hub

A sold-out concert by soul music legend Gladys Knight opened a new 2-acre park in Douglasville, Georgia, recently—that’s a good sign for the multipurpose public space in the county seat 30 miles west of Atlanta.

Douglasville is another example of a town converting an underutilized parcel downtown into a cool space into regional hub. The Town Green repurposes an existing elevator tower and bridge into a city gateway and event space. The park has a 3,700-person amphitheater, a rooftop event space, restrooms, a concessions building, a splash pad, a boulder climbing area, and “playable art” that now serves as the cultural, civic, and entertainment center of Douglas County.

If a small city or town, central to a larger area, does not have a space like this, starting such a project would be a good New Year's Resolution. Completion would probably take a few years, but it is worth the effort. A multipurpose park benefits everyone and can catalyze economic development, especially when connected to downtown neighborhoods.

Douglasville has a population of 34,000 and was founded as a railroad town in the 1870s. It has a small historic downtown. The new urbanist design firm TSW, based in Atlanta, led the design for the new park.

“While the Town Green is already serving as a community gathering space, it’s more than just a pretty space,” says Adam Williamson of TSW. “It provides a sustainable model for park development for the region and supports economic development and downtown revitalization goals. When the space isn’t used for city events, the park is open seven days a week for community leisure and recreation.”

The new open-air facility and surrounding park space were several years in the making, first envisioned as a catalyst project recommendation from the Douglasville Downtown Master Plan and 10-Year Strategic Plan.

The city is also working with a developer to incorporate 10,000 square feet of retail space, 350 apartments, and parking as part of the Town Green project, according to the Douglas County Sentinel.