City of Atlanta celebrates $1.3 million improvements at Maddox Park Pool

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and the Department of Parks and Recreation held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the renovated pool at Maddox Park.

Reed was joined by Department of Parks and Recreation Commissioner Amy Phuong, Councilmember Ivory Lee Young, Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer Paul Morris, MARTA Senior Director of Transit Oriented Development and Real Estate Amanda Rhein and Northwest Business Association President Rev. Larry Hill. The opening of the pool fulfills the mayor’s campaign commitment to reopen and revitalize recreation centers and pools in the City of Atlanta.

“Since my first day as Mayor, I’ve been determined to restore neighborhood assets that were shut down and forgotten during the worst recession in 80 years. Today, we are proud to reopen and revitalize Maddox Park Pool,” said Mayor Reed. “With the opening of this facility, every pool in the City of Atlanta is available for use. It is our hope that this new pool and amenities, as well as every other pools citywide, will serve as a source of pride to Atlanta residents.”

Maddox Park first opened in 1931 and the pool was an active facility serving Bankhead residents for many years before it closed. Under Reed’s administration, the Department of Parks and Recreation invested $1.3 million toward reconstruction of the Maddox Park Pool. The restored swimming pool includes a zero-entry feature, a renovated pool house with newly-installed bathroom amenities, three pool deck canopy shades, lounge chairs, water play and jet spray features and a new asphalt driveway which circles the entire park.

The revitalization of Maddox Park Pool is the first phase of renovations set to occur at the park. Under the Maddox Park Master Plan, developed in partnership with the Atlanta BeltLine, Inc., the more than 80-year-old public park will continue to receive improvements and expansions to its greenspace and recreation facilities, serving as a catalyst for new development. 

In addition, the park is in close proximity to Proctor Creek, which the City of Atlanta plans to remediate and restore. The restoration will result in the addition of 400 acres of new greenspace along the length of the creek and a trail that connects the Atlanta BeltLine to the Chattahoochee River.

“Today’s opening of Maddox Park Pool is significant and serves a greater purpose than ensuring that residents have a place to swim,” said Amy Phuong, Commissioner of the Department of Parks and Recreation. “It’s about providing amenities which ensure connectivity while further enhancing quality of life for residents. Maddox Park will see additional improvements and expansions in the near future.”

In 2014, the Department of Parks and Recreation acquired an additional 171 acres of land, including 14 new parks. This additional greenspace increased the percentage of Atlanta residents living within a half-mile walk of a park from 50 percent to 64 percent.