Piedmont Park, Atlanta’s most-visited green space, is getting a top-to-bottom renovation that will close most of the park for nearly a year.
The $48 million project begins September 1, 2026 and runs through August 2027. The work will add a public swimming pool (Atlanta’s first in a generation), a redesigned playground, new restrooms throughout the park, and a complete overhaul of the park’s aging plumbing, electrical, and irrigation systems.
The Piedmont Park Conservancy, which manages the park under a long-term agreement with the city, is leading the project and funding about 70 percent of it privately. The remaining 30 percent comes from a 2024 parks bond passed by Atlanta voters.
What you can and can’t use during construction
The park is closing in phases:
- September 2026: The Active Oval and Park Drive close for utility work
- November 2026: The North Woods trails and the 12th Street gate close for playground and pool work
- January 2027: The Greystone event space and the Dairy Barn close for HVAC renovation
- April 2027: Most of the central meadow reopens
- August 2027: Full park reopens
The Park Tavern restaurant and the Atlanta Botanical Garden adjacent to the park will both remain open throughout, with separate access paths.
“This is the biggest renovation the park has had since the 1990s. We know it’s going to be disruptive. We also know the park is going to be unrecognizably better when it reopens.”
— Piedmont Park Conservancy president
What’s new
- A public swimming pool. The first new municipal pool in Atlanta since the Washington Park pool closed in 2008. The new pool will be 75 feet long, four lanes, with a separate wading area. Daily admission will be $3 for adults, free for kids under 12.
- A redesigned playground. Bigger, with shade structures, water-play features, and a separate toddler area. Designed by the same firm that did the High Line in New York.
- New restrooms. The park currently has four public restrooms; the new layout has eight, with extended hours and 24-hour access for the restrooms near the 10th Street and 14th Street gates.
- Better infrastructure. The park’s irrigation system dates to 1980s. The electrical grid is over capacity. The new work replaces all of it.
- A new dog park. The current dog park, at the south end of the park near the Atlanta Botanical Garden, is being relocated and doubled in size.
- A new event lawn. A flat, programmable open space near 14th Street that can host concerts, markets, and outdoor films.
What it costs to use
The city is not raising the park’s price structure as part of the renovation. The park is free. The pool will charge a small admission (see above) to cover operations.
The Conservancy’s annual fundraising campaign is targeting an additional $8 million over the renovation period to cover the gap between the construction budget and ongoing operations. Donations can be made at piedmontpark.org.
When you can use the pool
The pool is expected to open in June 2027, in time for the summer. Hours and rules will be set by the Conservancy and the city in early 2027.
Kira Tomlinson covers Atlanta’s food, arts, and family scene for WACN 21. Reach her at ktomlinson@wacn21.com.
