FAQ

Park Rules: See City of Atlanta Park Use Rules & Guidelines

Skate Park Rules: See guidelines from the City of Atlanta

General Questions:

Where is the Park located?
The park is one block south of Ponce City Market (the former City Hall East) and is bordered by Morgan Street on the north, Rankin Street on the south, Edith Street on the east and Garden Park Drive on the west. For emergencies: 680 Dallas Street, Atlanta, GA 30308. See Google Map here 

Is there a parking lot?
To maximize green space and accommodate the detention lake there is no parking lot. On-street parking is available along North Angier Avenue, Morgan Street, Garden Park Drive, Dallas Street and Rankin Street.

How do I report a maintenance issue?
Call Atlanta Parks Customer Service at (404) 546-6813. If outside of business hours, you can leave a message.

Can the park be used for weddings and other events?”
For information about reserving the park, contact City of Atlanta Parks Reservations at: 404-546-6757.

What are the normal hours of operation?
The park follows standard Atlanta parks operating hours of 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

When is the splashpad open?
The splashpad operates from May 1- October 1 from 10am-8pm

Is the park ADA accessible?
Yes. There is an entrance ramp which at the intersection of Garden Park Drive and Morgan Street and the entire park is ADA compliant.

What should I do in case of emergency? What is the service address for a 911 call?
In case of emergency, call 911 immediately. The address of the park is 680 Dallas Street, Atlanta, GA 30308.

In case of a fire, where is the nearest fire hydrant for the Atlanta Fire Department?
There are fire hydrants at the northeast corners of Morgan Street and Dallas Street at North Angier Avenue and along Garden Park Drive.

During the evenings how is the park lit?
Energy efficient LED lighting provides excellent visibility at night, enhancing the park’s beauty and security. The lights are on a timer that is synched to year round sunset and sunrise hours.

Can I fish in the park?
No. The City of Atlanta prohibits fishing in this park.

I love the ducks and geese. Can I feed them?
Please don’t! Feeding ducks and geese bread, etc. can cause significant health problems as these foods have little nutritional value and may actually contribute to starvation as it reduces birds intake of the natural foods they should be eating (e.g. aquatic plants).

Park History and Design Questions:

What is Historic Fourth Ward Park?
Historic Fourth Ward Park is a 17-acre public park in the heart of the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood. Located near downtown and adjacent to the Atlanta BeltLine, the park is well positioned to serve neighborhood residents as well as visitors from around the city and the region. Construction began in August 2009 and the park officially opened on 2011. Atlanta BeltLine, Inc., on behalf of the City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management (DWM), managed the construction of the project, including a detention basin, or lake, which is the central visual amenity of Historic Fourth Ward Park. This two acre lake serves as a striking aesthetic feature while helping the City to meet Federal Consent Decree requirements. Construction on this project was completed more than $5 million under budget. The Trust for Public Land made the initial land acquisitions for the project and ongoing philanthropic support through the Atlanta BeltLine Partnership Capital Campaign was vital to additional land acquisition, design and park development In addition, property owners and community members formed the Historic Fourth Ward Park Conservancy to provide additional ongoing maintenance, programs and amenities for the Park.

See this site for more information about the park design: http://landscapearchitect.epubxp.com/i/114761-mar-2013/7

What are some of the key benefits of that project?
Atlanta’s Department of Watershed Maintenance intended to address sanitary sewer overflow problems in the Old Fourth Ward area of the Clear Creek Combined Sewer Basin by building an extension to a nearby CSO tunnel. However, by constructing the detention lake, the City reclaimed what was once the original “Clear Creek” and also created a functional, creative and sustainable feature for the park. More importantly, by detaining storm water flows for a 100‐year storm event, the lake addresses capacity relief problems in the overall 800‐acre drainage basin and reduces the peak flow of the Highland Avenue Combined Sewer Trunk to which it discharges.

See these sites for more information about the benefits of the detention pond:

Does the lake hold sanitary sewer water?
No. The lake’s permanent pool elevation comes from natural groundwater. The lake is designed to detain only rain water after a storm event. After a storm, the rain water recedes by slowly discharging into the Highland Avenue Combined Sewer trunk. Additionally, should the trunk fill up, the lake is designed so the flow will not re‐enter the basin.

Is it safe to enter the water?
You should not enter the water. The water in the lake is not suitable for swimming or drinking. To discourage the possibility of falling into the water, several precautions went into the design. The lake is surrounded by “prickly” landscaped plantings to discourage children and pets from going into the water. There is also a barrier and cable railing along the upper and lower walkways.

Some detention basins are designed to go dry after a rain event. Will that happen to this lake?
No. This lake maintains a permanent pool elevation of water so the scenic view remains intact for park visitors.

What happens if there’s a heavy rain event and people are in the park?
The lake is designed to capture flow in the immediate area if there is a very heavy rainfall. If a 100‐year storm is ever experienced, the lower walkway would be covered. Visitors should be aware of current conditions and not enter the lower basin area if the water is rising.

Skate Park Questions:

What are the Skate Park Rules?
See this document from the City of Atlanta