Freedom Barkway

The Freedom Barkway off-leash dog park officially opened on March 21 in the Old Fourth Ward. Located on statedonated land at the corner of Freedom Parkway and Boulevard, the gated greenspace has space for large and small dogs to romp and socialize. Coming soon will be splash pads, more seating and other amenities for dogs and their humans.

Top left: Old Fourth Ward resident Savannah Elder walks in with her dog, Roxanne.

Middle left: Attending the opening ceremony ribbon cutting was (from left) Wayne Reimer, Georgia State Sen. Nan Orrock, and R.J. Morris, COO of Freedom Barkway.

Bottom left: Patrick Looney, 9, with his dog Stella at the opening day event.

At right: Old Fourth Ward resident Natalia Castells gets plenty of kisses from Taco.

Erskine Fountain Grant Park rallies to restore historic landmark

By Julie Bookman

Many a visitor to Grant Park has perhaps wondered about the dried-up and decayed fountain located at the park’s Ormond Street entrance off Cherokee Avenue.

This is the Erskine Memorial Fountain – the city’s first public fountain. Named for Federal Judge John Erskine, the fountain was a gift to the city in 1896 from the prominent Georgia lawmaker’s daughter.

Designed by John Massey Rhind, a popular memorial sculptor in the late 19th century, the fountain initially adorned the intersection of Peachtree and West Peachtree streets. But just 16 years after its installation, the city reconfigured that area and the fountain had to go. It was moved to Grant Park, where it was in working order only briefly. For a hundred years, it has been an inoperable eyesore and a regular target for vandalism.

Now, Grant Park neighbors, together with local preservationists, are on a mission to restore the Erskine Fountain to its working glory. “Biscuits & Martinis

Mixer” is a community-wide event on April 18 to raise funds. The long-term goal is to fully restore the bronze-bowl fountain and its surrounding elements, which include a large curved marble bench and granite entryway walls.

The event begins at 6:30 p.m. with a brief talk at the fountain, then continues 7-10 p.m. at the Atlanta Preservation Center’s LP Grant Mansion, 327 St. Paul Ave. SE. The $40 donation includes two martinis (or beer or wine), plus appetizers provided by neighborhood cafés Stone Soup Kitchen and Ria’s Bluebird.

“This effort will show that apathy now has an enemy,” says David Mitchell, president of M.H. Mitchell, Inc., a nonprofit for support of Southern history. Along with that organization, Grant Park Conservancy and History Atlanta are leading this restoration effort.

Tickets for the April 18 gala will be sold at the door. For more information on that event, the fountain’s history, and also to donate to the Erskine Fountain Fund, visit historyatlanta.com/erskinememorial-fountain/.