DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson invests $2M in Ellenwood Park

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—Today, District 3 Commissioner Larry Johnson attended the groundbreaking ceremony for Phase One improvements at Ellenwood Park.

The $2 million investment for the first phase of the 46-acre park will include a new playground, a parking lot, and an entrance to Ellenwood Park. This investment was made possible by Commissioner Johnson in partnership with the DeKalb County Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs, and the County Line-Ellenwood community.

“It is time for this area. We have to always look forward,” said Johnson. “My goal is to bridge the gap and bring our seniors and youth together. The playground is just the beginning, and the intergenerational center is next. I want to thank CEO Thurmond, DeKalb County Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs, and the County Line-Ellenwood community for helping make this day possible.”

The County Line-Ellenwood Community is rich in history and is still occupied by multi-generations who have lived therefor years, officials said. Johnson has been a catalyst in partnering with the Ellenwood community since 2014 when the area was redistricted into District 3.

In 2015, Johnson helped to mobilize the Ellenwood community to join public meetings, so residents’ voices could be heard for the community’s vision for its future. For the past eight years, John said, great strides have been made in the community by providing essential amenities and resources, such as the opening of the Ellenwood Library and now Phase One of Ellenwood Park.

“This community is solid! I am the sixth generation of this community, and I am honored to help carry out the dreams and goals that our parents and other relatives shared,” said Alice White Bussey. “Our families are still ingrained in this community because our parents made sure we had homes, food, and churches to worship. We helped build this community, so this moment means everything, and we will keep pushing until we get everything that we see as our vision to pass on to the next generation.”

Dernita Johnson Spencer, another resident, said the project is a source of pride for her family.

“This means the world to me. We’ve been fighting for this for so long,” said Spencer. “My brother, the late great Ronald Johnson, fought for 25 years to try to make this happen and I want to dedicate today from me to him because he had done so much to help us get this far and I appreciate it.”