The tornado that hit the City of Atlanta in March 2008, left the Historic Oakland Cemetery devastated. As the cemetery continues to be restored to its pre-tornado state, Oakland Cemetery was named Park of the Month for May 2009. The nine member crew has been awarded Park of the Month for their outstanding grounds maintenance efforts at the historic site.
“The Oakland Cemetery crew is deserving of a great recognition for their dedication and hard work in maintaining the grounds after the storm,” says Ken Gillett, City of Atlanta’s Office of Parks Director. “Oakland Cemetery is one the City’s valued historic treasures.”
More than 100 trees and thousands of monuments were damaged or destroyed. Many of the headstones and monumental buildings are currently being repaired and the restoration is being managed by the Historical Oakland Foundation. The Historic Oakland Foundation held a rededication ceremony on March 14, 2009, to mark the re opening of the cemetery since its closing after the tornado.
“Throughout the massive cleanup efforts, the crew continued to manage areas in the cemetery in anticipation of the reopening,” says Gillett.
The Park of the Month program runs from May through October and is managed by the City of Atlanta’s Office of Parks along with Park Pride, a non-profit organization that works with the community on parks and green space. There were five parks nominated by the Office of Parks for the Park of the Month honors. Park Pride reviewed all the nominations and after a careful review assisted in the recommendation of one park for Park of the Month honors. The May’s Park of the Month, Oakland Cemetery will be eligible for Park of Year offered by Park Pride.
- The City of Atlanta’s Office of Parks
The Office of Parks is a division of the City of Atlanta’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs. Its mission is to improve, preserve, protect and maintain the City’s parks and public green spaces as a safe and enjoyable enhancement to the quality of life for all residents and visitors to the City of Atlanta.
- The Historic Oakland Cemetery
Today, the 48 acres of Oakland provides the third largest green space in downtown Atlanta. Also, it is the final resting place of many of Atlanta's settlers, builders and most noted citizens.