Decatur, Stone Mountain parks win grants for upgrades

Two parks in DeKalb County have won grants from a local nonprofit for improvements, such as new playground equipment and signage.

On Feb. 18, officials with Park Pride, an Atlanta-based nonprofit, announced the allotment of $3.5 million in funding that would go to 19 parks throughout the metro-area, including DeKalb County.

This year, the two local parks selected to receive part of the millions in funds from the nonprofit are Frazier-Rowe Park in Decatur and Wade Walker Park in Stone Mountain.

According to Park Pride’s website, the grant awarded to Frazier-Rowe Park will go toward building a new playground that will incorporate new interactive features to encourage children to get active, such as climbing structures.

At Wade Walker Park, funds from Park Pride will be used to construct new wayfinding signage and trail markers, making it easier for visitors to navigate the park, according to the nonprofit’s announcement.

“What makes these projects especially important is that they are community-led, and these are the improvements that neighbors deemed most important for their parks,” said Hannah Jones, Park Pride’s marketing and communications manager.

Each year, using a community-driven approach, Park Pride works with neighbors to make their greenspace dreams a reality, according to officials.

This year’s investments were made possible through a blend of public and private support, including longtime funders the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation, The Home Depot Foundation, and the city of Atlanta, as well as new program supporter, The Coca-Cola Foundation and others.

“Park Pride is successful in large part thanks to strong partnerships with community groups, parks departments, elected officials, designers, builders, and private donors who are all working to shape great parks for everyone to enjoy,” said Andrew White, Park Pride’s director of grantmaking and implementation. “With support from our partners, since 2021, Park Pride has invested over $10 million into projects in historically disinvested communities.”

Frazier-Rowe Park, located at 2886 Lavista Road in Decatur, is a 9-acre park that is a designated wildlife sanctuary. It includes a nature trail network, gardens and more, according to Friends of Frazier-Rowe Park’s website.

Wade Walker Park, located at 5585 Rockbridge Road in Stone Mountain, is a 177-acre park that includes amenities such as multi-use sports fields, tennis courts, picnic areas, a lake, walking trails and more, according to DeKalb County’s website.

For more information, visit parkpride.org and https://www.dekalbcountyga.gov/parks/mission-statement.