Home Park

bring it on. That's the motto for this little burg of benevolence on the west side of Atlanta. Home Park residents, with the leadership of the Home Park Community Improvement Association, are dedicated to taking and maintaining control of their neighborhood.

Tim State, president of the community organization, was gardening when a neighbor approached him in his yard to emphasize the importance of community involvement. After his first meeting that night, State has helped steer the community away from simply focusing on running on-site day care and towards a broader outlook.

The association continues to operate Home Park Learning Center, a non-profit childcare center with up to 80 children, but they also have a neighborhood deputy program and are actively involved in zoning and land ordinances.

Since its inception in 1974, the Home Park Community Improvement Association has created an active land-use committee and a group that works on community planning and development. These committees oversee and review land variances, focus on zoning laws and work with land developers and property owners, overseeing renovations and building. They seek to enhance the neighborhood, and ensure gentrification doesn't take control of the area.

"We lose when we say to a developer 'We don't want this [in our community].' Instead, our committee works with the developer to say 'We like the idea,' but here are our problems," State said. By working with the developer, Home Park maintains their community vision, while establishing excellent partnerships with local contractors and businesses.

Home Park residents include Georgia Tech students, young professionals and seniors who have lived in their homes since their birth. A mosque and Islamic school attract quite a few Muslim residents, and the broad range of businesses, including Turner Broadcasting and the planned Atlantic Station development, provide residents with an urban experience, according to State.

"This is not a cul-de-sac environment. It's a neighborhood with a different feel, designed for people who want the benefit of living in town without the commute," said State.

While potlucks, neighborhood parades and other social events do take place in Home Park, State says that finding a resident to organize a special tour of homes or other neighborhood social events is not easy. He adds, "when it comes to performing non-glamorous, grueling tasks we have plenty of volunteers." This take-control, passionate attitude towards the city blocks creates "an amazing sense of community," said State. Truly this proactive neighborhood values its shared bonds in a unique way--by sharing garden equipment, taking care of each other's kids, and actively keeping their streets safe.