12 months of making Decatur a greener, more attainable, more connected community. |
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Legacy Decatur, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, cultivates the growth of programs, partnerships, and resources that support a positive legacy for the City of Decatur, Georgia — more green, more attainable, more connected.
Our most visible contribution to the community is our management of Legacy Park, a city-owned, 77-acre site complete with pond, nature trails, woodlands, wetlands, meadows, and a thriving campus of historic buildings.
A robust community engagement process produced the park’s master plan, which includes projects to preserve greenspace, provide affordable housing, expand recreational opportunities, and create a welcoming place for diverse populations to strengthen ties and celebrate one another. As with all our efforts throughout the Decatur community, it's an endeavor we're honored to be a part of.
Please join us as we look back upon what was truly a year to celebrate. |
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Volunteers work to clear Legacy Park of invasive plant species. |
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Throughout 2023, we kept our green thumb in the dirt.
Perhaps most notably was our 200 Trees initiative. In partnership with Trees Atlanta and in support of Decatur's 2023 Bicentennial, we made 200 front yard shade trees available, free of charge, to Decatur homeowners, and arranged for the planting of memorial and celebration trees too.
In September, Dr. Jane Goodall recognized Legacy Park as an environmental preservation leader, planting three serviceberry trees to commemorate her visit.
The planting of the serviceberry trees was more than just an environmental gesture. It was a symbol — of a healthy planet, of service and cooperation, and of the belief that we as a species will still be here in the future to benefit from the actions we take today.
To that end, throughout the year, Trees Atlanta continued in their significant progress to rid the Legacy Park conservation area of invasive plants like Chinese privet, Bradford pear, English ivy, bush honeysuckle, multiflora rose, wisteria, Autumn olive, and more, while their sapling tree plantings promise a healthy native tree canopy for the next generation. 280 volunteers contributed to their 2,135 staff hours with an additional 1,120 volunteer hours invested.
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The Creative Village will celebrate our love of the arts and support for the artists who add so much to our lives. |
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Embedded in the Legacy Park property is the United Methodist Children’s Home’s long history of housing those with few or no options, a history we remain faithful to today through our efforts in support of attainable housing. In 2023 we identified a property management company to handle the leasing and upkeep of the Creative Village, our effort to turn former UMCH dorm buildings into affordable housing for Decatur artists. Included will be two buildings featuring one efficiency apartment, four two-bedroom apartments, one three-bedroom apartment and one ADA four-bedroom apartment, all rented at the 60-80% AMI level.
Furthermore, the South Housing Village, where the Decatur Housing Authority will bring 132 units of affordable housing to Legacy Park, took another step forward, closing on its necessary funding to begin construction. |
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City of Decatur Mayor Patti Garrett, Mayor Pro Tem Tony Powers, and others representing Decatur and DeKalb County commissions, cut the ribbon to officially open the new inclusive and accessible playground at Legacy Park. PHOTO: Dean Hesse for Decaturish, supportyourlocalnews.com.
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2023 saw Legacy Decatur's community building work come to full bloom.
March brought the debut of the inclusive playground, which now welcomes children of all abilities and is the frequent source of joyful shrieks as new friends play together; and a commercial kitchen lease with the Refugee Women’s Network will allow refugee and other low-income women to now grow catering businesses and gain financial independence. Community flourished throughout the year with Truckin’ Tuesdays, Barn Dances sponsored by the Frank Hamilton School, and the many events hosted in our many venues.
We partnered with the city to celebrate its 200th birthday and to raise funds for the 200 Stories Project, which is documenting the stories of Decatur residents for posterity.
Finally, our repurposing of historic buildings to house local nonprofits allows them to invest their money saved through reduced-rent into programming at Legacy Park. Like Paint Love’s monthly free family art day; Frank Hamilton School’s outdoor folk jams; Wild Nest Bird Rehab’s care for 1,500 birds (many of which could be released at Legacy Park); Refugee Women’s Network’s many social and economic adjustment programs; Global Growers Network stewardship of the Decatur Kitchen Garden; the Wylde Center’s environmental education field trips; Georgia Arborist Association’s donated tree care; L’Arche Atlanta’s ability-inclusive community events; Compassionate Atlanta’s CompassionCon event; Decatur Education Foundation’s mental health training; and countless other programs.
Today we look forward to our upcoming Legacy Community Day, a celebration of our nonprofit tenants on Saturday, April 13 from 11am to 3pm, that will feature the Wylde Center’s 2024 Spring Plant Sale Festival with all the things you've come to love about it over the years— members only preview night, a wide variety of summer veggies, annuals, native perennials, and herbs, and plenty of Wylde Center staff ready to answer all of your garden questions!
If you donate $50 to Legacy Decatur before April 12, you'll get a special invitation to join Wylde Center members for the Plant Festival's preview night, complete with cocktail hour, on April 12. |
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Paint Love is just one of the many Legacy Park nonprofits offering community programming. |
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2024 will be another exciting year as we cheer the groundbreaking of an all new track and field facility and 132 units of affordable housing, and welcome artists into the Creative Village. We'll build an Ability Garden with Trellis Horticulture Therapy Alliance and celebrate the Decatur Greenway’s extension across Legacy Park and the incoming crosswalk across Columbia that will improve pedestrian and bike access. With these capital improvements and other efforts, we're excited to continue our mission, and to welcome folks to enjoy all that Legacy Park has to offer. |
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This image from the Legacy Park Master Plan illustrates the general positioning of both the track and field and the South Housing Village. It does not reflect final construction-ready designs. |
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Legacy Decatur operations are funded in a variety of ways, including leasing of the park’s buildings and spaces, grants, weddings and other events, donations from residents, supporters, and institutions, and support from the City of Decatur, whose yearly financial contribution will conclude as of July 2025. |
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Becoming self-sustaining, implementing the Legacy Park Master Plan, and keeping the park financially viable requires the support of the community, which is why we’re so grateful for our generous 2023 contributors to Legacy Park and to our Stewardship Fund.
Hats off to the folks below. We couldn’t do it without you. |
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Andrea Arnold Jerry L Banks
Diana Berman Janet Bozeman Michael Burfield Marti Fessenden
Gary and Patti Garrett Michael Harbin and Rowena Worrall Madeleine Henner Tom Henner Suzahn Huffman-Donaldson Teresa Kruzan
Li Liu and Conor McNally |
| Allen Mast
Evelyn Menne Peggy Merriss Paul Mitchell Dorsey Nobles Ann Pavlik Barbara and Bruce Ribner Ron and Lisa Brill Charitable Trust Alan Rosselot Salesforce Hugh Saxon
Enid Steinbart and Lew Lefton David Williams |
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COVER PHOTO CREDIT: Agnes Scott
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| Schedule Your Picture-Perfect Wedding at Decatur's Legacy Park
Legacy Park offers an ideal setting for an enchanting wedding — from the intimate and historic Moore Chapel to a variety of scenic assets spread across the property. Nestled on the east side of Decatur, Georgia, Legacy Park is just a five minute drive from many restaurants, shops, and hotels. >> Get Started >>
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| Planning an Event? Legacy Park's Got You Covered for Events of all Types and Sizes
From baby showers to birthday parties, business gatherings to live performances, family reunions to festivals, we've got a wide range of facilities perfectly suited to your vision, all at pricing that can't be beat. Check out Legacy Park for your next event. We can't wait to work with you. >> Get Started >>
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