New Highland Park facts for kids
New Highland Park is a small, welcoming park located in Atlanta, Georgia. It covers about half an acre (0.41 acres) and sits at the corner of North Highland Avenue and St. Charles Place. This park is part of the historic Atkins Park neighborhood, which many people consider to be part of the larger Virginia Highland area.
Contents
The Story of New Highland Park
How the Park Began
This park wasn't always a park! It used to be two separate pieces of land. One of these lots had a house on it. In 1952, the house was taken down. Then, a new building was constructed on both lots: the Highland Branch of the Atlanta Public Library.
From Library to Park
The library building was made bigger in 1976. However, it was later taken down in 1990. For many years, the land remained empty. Then, in December 2008, a group called the Virginia Highland Civic Association bought the land. Their goal was to turn it into a beautiful community park.
A Green Future: Eco-Friendly Plans
What is a Rain Garden?
New Highland Park is being developed with a special focus on nature. The plan is to create an eco-friendly park that includes a rain garden. A rain garden is a special garden designed to collect rainwater. It helps the environment by managing storm water naturally.
How Bioretention Helps
The park project will show how "bioretention" works. This is a cool way to handle rainwater right where it falls. Bioretention uses native Georgia plants to capture water on the park site. These plants naturally clean pollutants from the water. Instead of the water running into storm drains and being wasted, it soaks back into the ground. This helps to refill the underground water supply, which is good for the environment!
