Even during the depths of the Great Depression, Morningside Lenox Park residents recognized the singular nature of the site at Piedmont Road and Monroe Drive. It was one of the most trafficked and visible entrances to this beautiful new “suburb” and so in July 1932, the corner was preserved as Smith Park, to honor one of Morningside’s developers, James Robert Smith.

Recently, the MLPA Parks Committee and a group of residents banded together in an effort to revitalize the park and fountain. Residents of Sherwood Road kicked off the fundraising effort for the fountain with a ‘Sherwood Be Good’ block party, held on March 21, 2015. With support from local businesses around Smith Park, neighbors raised more than $4,000 as attendees previewed designs and voted for their favorite. A design for the refurbished fountain was chosen (please scroll down to see the rendering), plans were presented to and approved by the city’s Parks Design Committee, and work on the fountain began. Fundraising continued with a party at Smith’s Olde Bar and with a number of neighbors donating to Smith Park via our fiscal partner, Park Pride.  The investment for the fountain is approximately $14,000.

Smith Park Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

On 10:00 AM on Saturday, November 5th  the MLPA and neighbors gathered together for a morning ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the restoration of the fountain at Smith Park and to thank all the sponsors and volunteers that helped make the renovation of this important entrance to our neighborhood possible.

To donate to the project to revitalize Smith Park, Click Here Once you are on the webpage of our fiscal partner, Park Pride, select Smith Park from the drop-down menu and make your tax-deductible donation.

Listed below are the neighbors, businesses, and organizations that have made the restoration work possible:

Smith Park – Park Pride Sponsors:

  • Surrounding Landscapes
  • Ken Price, ReMax Atlanta

Fountain Donations:

  • Park Pride  –  $2,500
  • J.W. Ayers Plumbing  –  $2,500
  • Surrounding Landscapes – $2,500
  • MLPA  –  $2,000
  • Ash Parker  –  $1,000

Additional  Donations ($250- $750 each)

    • Tom & Dabney Dixon
    • Hob Nob
    • Home Rebuilders
    • David & Deana Johnson
    • Laughing Skull Lounge
    • Kevin McGlynn, Dorsey Alston Realtors
  • Scott Rosenberg
  • Sig Samuels Dry Cleaners
  • Smith’s Olde Bar
  • Varuni Naopli
  • Jim Williams, Sherwood Road neighbor

Smith Park Fountain Before & After:

Smith Park Ribbon Cutting Ceremony:

Print Friendly, PDF & Email