D.H. Stanton Park is one of the nicest parks I have ever stepped foot in.

The facilities, atmosphere, appearance, and location of this park make it extremely appealing. Whether you want an open field to kick a soccer ball around, a softball field to play kickball in, grills to have a cookout, playgrounds for your kids to play on, a track for you to run, or just a place to casually hangout with friends, this park provides it all. I sounded a little bit like an infomercial there, but it’s true! It is quite refreshing to see a park that is not just a patch of grass and some seats/sculptures, which from my experience, is the standard of a “park” in Atlanta.

On a Friday afternoon, the park was nearly completely empty. It was extremely peaceful, beautiful, and impressive to me. I found the location of the park convenient for the neighborhoods it was close to, considering it had three separate walking entrances. In regards to this, I found it difficult to find somewhere to park. This might be an intentional decision to the designer, and if it were, I see why. The entire park embodies the ideas of being active and healthy. Driving there would kind of defeat the point wouldn’t it?

The facilities present in this park along with the atmosphere it brings reminded me exactly of the social and cultural expectations of a project like the Beltline. This park has the potential to bring all sorts of people together, doing all sorts of activities: and that’s exactly what the Beltline does daily. I truly loved this park, and I think I would enjoy going back on a busier day with some friends and/or family.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trZp6spFsGk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6OP55d2uUQ

The above videos show the sounds and sights of the park more effectively than pictures can. The first one I began to record when a family of four showed up and began to play on the playground with their two small daughters. Previously, the only people I had come in contact with were a lady and her dog, and a man on his bicycle riding through. It was nice to see a family actually taking advantage of the facilities this park brings.

The softball field at D.H. Stanton was extremely cool to me. It reminded me so much of memories I have as a kid playing kickball with my family. The field lacked any fencing besides the small section behind home plate, and it lacked any bases besides home. The dirt and the grass looked like they had barely been touched. What shocked me the most was the incredibly nice dugouts and watchtower! That thing is two stories tall with a concession stand. This recreational field for a family-oriented park is better designed than most of the soccer fields I played club soccer on growing up. I found the existence of a field like this, along with a track for walking and running, to be successful attempts at promoting healthier lifestyles to the neighborhoods nearby.

I believed that the little aspects of this park created a great contribution to its atmosphere. The beautiful, colorful sculpture pictured above, the curving rail tunnel along the sidewalk, and shiny, metallic infrastructure pieces that made the lamps and the benches look nice and clean: these seemingly small things contributed greatly to the park. They made the park not just a place for a recreation, but a place to admire for its beauty.

One thing I found interesting about this park was the amount of grills and seating space. There were multiple grills, picnic tables, trash cans, and rooftops. The existence of these objects gave the park more of a big family feel, like a park for big events and cookouts. I have a large family, and this park made me think of the times my family took me to big parks to celebrate holidays like New Years and the 4th of July. Something I was particularly impressed by were the chess/checkers tables!

The playground at D.H. Stanton was nothing less than impressive. I would have loved a place like this as a kid, especially if it were as close to my neighborhood as it is to the neighborhood I parked in. There were numerous swings, riding toys, monkey bars, slides, and those really cool pipeline speakers that let you talk through one and hear it through the other. The playground seemed friendly to all ages, especially considering how later in my trip a family of four with very small children came and played.

The structure of D.H. Stanton Park was surprising to me, considering how urban the area is around it. The park consisted of multiple playgrounds, multiple eating areas, a walking/biking path, a recreational softball field, a completely constructed bathroom facility, and a humungous open field. The park was almost entirely clean, and completely developed. I personally loved the feel of this park. It was welcoming, peaceful, and stunningly beautiful. Granted, it was a gorgeous day, but I felt that the park was very pleasing to the eye.

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Puppy!

As I explored D.H. Stanton Park, one of the Beltline’s many parks, my favorite part was this dog that I encountered. This pup and his/her owner were minding their own business on a leisurely walk through the park. It’s an entirely dog friendly park, with doggy bag stations placed throughout. I absolutely adore dogs, and any attractions in the city that make it easier for people to have dogs around are something I am absolutely supportive of. (Notice the adorable bark in the attached clip above)

Hiking the untouched Southside Beltline Trail was a difficult feat. It was a hot day, there were thorns and weeds all over the ground, and the insects drove me insane. However, the trek was completely worth it. As a student attempting to piece together what the Beltline truly is, I felt that documenting this section was very necessary.

As you hike this man-made trail, the amount of kudzu surrounding you might be the first and only thing you observe. However, with continued investigation, you will notice the historic railroad still in existence right next to your feet. Yes, it is nearly invisible due to the amount of overgrowth, but it is there. For someone who appreciates the Beltline project and its intentions, this spot should be fascinating and imaginative. Having walked the completely finished parts of the Beltline myself, I constantly looked down both ends of the path trying to imagine what a completed Beltline trail would look like. Would it bring in new businesses? Would these empty spaces become parks and recreational facilities? Would people use this trail leisurely or simply as a mode of transportation?

From a political standpoint, the funds necessary to clean out a space like this one are going to be hefty. The Beltline will be under a lot of pressure from Atlantans to use their money wisely and begin showing signs of constructive progress. The completed Eastside Beltline Trail has proven to be a huge success with new businesses and homes popping up and with millions of people coming to it every year. Will people continue to support the project despite the money it takes and despite the gentrification it may cause in some areas? Would such an innovative urban design project such as this one be worth the gentrification it may cause? In my opinion, it is up to the people of the neighborhoods of Atlanta to speak up and make sure their voices are heard by their government and by the Beltline.