Shirley Clarke Franklin Park

Shirley Clarke Franklin Park is a beautiful park in Atlanta, Georgia. It is located on the site of the former Bellwood Quarry. The park lies between Johnson Road and Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway and is surrounded by the neighborhoods of Bankhead, Grove Park, and Knight Park/Howell Station.

Originally called Westside Park, it became an important part of the Atlanta Beltline master plan. The park connects to the Proctor Creek Greenway Trail, making it a great spot for walking, relaxing, and enjoying nature. It turned an old quarry into a lovely green space for everyone to enjoy.

Status

The land was owned by Fulton County and leased to Vulcan Materials. In 2005, Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin shared a plan to buy the land and turn it into a big park. The park would be 351 acres with a lake for drinking water. This was part of the Beltline project, which aimed to build parks and trails around Atlanta.

In 2017, plans for the first part of the park were shared. This part would include a special view of the old quarry and the city. In 2018, work began on the park. In 2021, the park opened to the public. In 2025, the park was renamed Shirley Clarke Franklin Park to honor the former mayor who helped make the park happen.

Bellwood Quarry

Bellwood Quarry used to be a fun place for local teens before it closed in 2007. Later, it was used to film many TV shows and movies, like The Walking Dead, The Vampire Diaries, Mockingjay Part 1, The Fundamentals of Caring, Stranger Things, and First Man.

When the park was being built, the area was closed to everyone. A long tunnel was built to bring water in. The reservoir began filling in April 2020 and was finished in February 2021. Today, Shirley Clarke Franklin Park helps keep Atlanta’s water safe, storing more than two billion gallons of water for emergencies.