July 2011 - Parks & Recreation - 62

" Parks truly do build communities.
That's why we're so adamant about what we do. "
-Barbara Tulipane

The refurbished community center
was opened earlier this year, calling even
greater attention to the need to reopen
the adjoining damaged park site. NRPA
entered into partnership with the city of
Atlanta to restore and rebuild Butler Park.
And, in response to NRPA appeals for donations from park and playground equipment vendors, PlayCore, Inc., pledged a
complete playground and Superior International Industries (SII) donated fitness
trail and picnic shelter equipment. Other
vendors, including Converse and the United States Tennis Association, made donations toward the renovation of the site's
basketball and tennis courts. (See sidebar
for complete list of NRPA vendor-donors.)
Besides Taylor, speakers at the groundbreaking included U.S. Representative
John Lewis (D-GA), whose Congressional
district includes the city of Atlanta; local
senior rights advocate Helene Mills, Atlanta Housing Authority Vice President Trish
O'Connell; City Council member Kwanza
Hall; and NRPA CEO Barbara Tulipane. As
Tulipane remarked, " Parks truly do build
communities. That's why we are so adamant about what we do. "

Other speakers echoed that sentiment-
each emphasizing different aspects of the
unique promise of the park site in a rapidly changing city center. Taylor spoke to the
neighborhood's distinctiveness as a part
of Atlanta rich in heritage and ripe for new
community bonds. O'Connell pointed to
" the vision that began with the revitalization
of Grady Homes " -and to the vibrant new
demographic of senior adults now living
around the park. Helene Mills, one of those
senior adults in the community, described
the groundbreaking for the new park as
" one of the happiest days I've had in a long
time, " adding, " We have never really had a
park on this side of the highway before. "
Kwanza Hall recalled his days growing
up playing in Atlanta city parks-and said
the renovated Selena Butler park would
teach a new multi-generational community how to play well together. " How to
agree without being disagreeable. And
how to lose and how to win. " And Congressman Lewis remarked on the expanse of the city visible from what will
be the new playground. " This is a wonderful place, " he said, as he motioned toward the skyline. " This is one of the most

Donors for
Selena
Butler Park
Revitalization
PlayCore, Inc.:
Complete playground
(equipment and
installation)
Converse & the
Health Education
Communication
Center of Atlanta:
Refurbishment of
basketball courts
Superior International
Industries (Sii):
Outdoor fitness
equipment and picnic
area amenities
Play World & Kay
Park: Picnic area
amenities
beautiful spots in Atlanta. "
Helene Mills's concluding comment alluded to both the significance of the park
in that section of the city and the struggle to redesign and reclaim it for use by all
residents. " This has been a lacking area for
many, many, many years. " And the rebuilding project, she reflected, is the culmination of " our meeting time, our fighting time,
and our coming-together agreeing time. "
Construction of Selena Butler Park will
continue throughout the summer and early fall-with a dedication and opening
scheduled for November 2, during the
2011 NRPA Congress and Exposition in
Atlanta.

60 Parks & Recreation

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July 2011 - Parks & Recreation

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