Atlanta transformed into a city of commerce during the first decades of the 20th century. With this economic change, came many changes in the structure of the city. In the 1920s a series of viaducts were constructed, which elevated the city above the railroad tracks. Both whites and blacks were expanding commercially; however, Atlanta remained a segregated city, and the layout of the city confirmed this. Auburn Avenue became the business and entertainment district for blacks, and new buildings were constructed here to provide for office space. The city also grew very fond of sports and therefore a lot of recreational facilities could now be found around the city. Along with smaller neighborhood parks, two large public parks, Grand Park and Piedmont Park, were established. Washington Park, the first public park for black citizens in Atlanta, was also established. The city also bought park space in the residential areas of West End, Ashley Park, Druid Hills, and Candler Park. Furthermore, the construction of the first public housing projects took place during this time, and like the rest of Atlanta, these were segregated into Techwood Homes for whites and University Homes for blacks.
Source: Andy Ambrose, Atlanta: An Illustrated History (2003).
No comments:
Post a Comment