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Piedmont Park is the " Central Park " of Atlanta, Georgia , located in Midtown , north of the city center. Originally the land was owned by a Dr. Benjamin Franklin Walker , who used it as his out-of-town gentleman's Farm and Residence . He sold it in 1887 for use as the site of the Piedmont Exposition , during which the first Commercial showing of a Motion Picture in the U.S. was made. The park today is largely as Joseph Forsyth Johnson designed it for the exposition. After that, the Piedmont Driving Club puchased it for their Golf Course and club. The original Walker residence has been incorporated as a room in the Clubhouse . In 1892 , Piedmont Park was the location of the second Football game in the South between Auburn University and the University Of Georgia . The Cotton States And International Exposition of 1895 attracted visitors from around the world to the future site of Piedmont Park. President Grover Cleveland presided over the opening of this World's Fair in October of 1895, and the first public performance of John Philip Sousa 's "King Cotton" march was performed at the ceremony, conducted by the composer himself. Most of the buildings that were constructed for the exposition were made of local Georgia granite. The buildings were dismantled after the event, mainly so that the granite could be sold to absolve the debt that the city incurred to hold the fair. In 1904 , the City bought the park on June 15 th, and in 1912 the sons of Frederick Law Olmsted ( Landscape Architect for Central Park in New York ) John and Frederick, Jr. were asked to Design a master Plan for the park while they were at work on Grant Park . This was never fully implemented, although in recent years, Revitalization efforts have used the plan as the major guide to making improvements. The 12th St entrance at the building on the west end of Lake Clara Meer are their design. Piedmont Park is considered the focal point of the vibrant Midtown community of Atlanta. The park is home to various annual celebrations and events, including the Atlanta Jazz Festival and the Atlanta Dogwood Festival . A summer series of classic films, Screen On The Green , is also aired in the park for local residents. A Centennial celebration was held for the park in June 2004 . ADDITIONAL INFO In 1887, Benjamin Walker sold 189 acres of land to the Gentleman's Driving Club (now known as the Piedmont Driving Club). Although the property was supposed to create an exclusive club and horse racing grounds, the new owners leased the land to the Piedmont Exposition Company which created a fairgrounds and exposition area named Piedmont Park. The best-known exposition held at the park was the Cotton States International Exposition of 1895, which was essentially a World's Fair. This event helped turn the park into what it is today. The ball fields were originally a horse racetrack, and a nearby spring was excavated to create Lake Clara Meer where residents once swam and sunbathed. When the city of Atlanta purchased the park in 1904, it was considered too far from the city to be useful to most of its citizens. But with the expansion and growth of Atlanta, Piedmont Park has become a welcome green space for city residents. In 1909, the sons of Frederick Law Olmsted (who designed Central Park in New York City) were hired to create a master plan for the park. But the plan was never fully implemented due to funding issues. Recent renovations and expansions taken from the Olmsted's plan have made the park a more beautiful resource for the community. Today, Piedmont Park is a much-needed oasis in Midtown where Atlanta residents can relax and play. Although it is relatively quiet in the winter, during the summer months you'll see folks doing everything from playing volleyball, football, soccer, and other sports to simply enjoying a game of catch with their dogs or attending a festival. At over 180 acres, Piedmont Park is Atlanta's largest park and has played host to many celebrities--from John Philip Sousa in 1895 to Oprah Winfrey in 2004. CONTROVERSY In May, 2004, the Piedmont Park Conservancy unveiled a joint proposal with the Atlanta Botanical Garden to build a 6-story, 760-car Parking Deck in the park to serve visitors and to make it more convenient for people going to special events. The plan has met with strong opposition from many members of the public who want the Olmsted inspired park to remain an oasis from Atlanta traffic and not to contribute to traffic and congestion. Opponents also want the decision-making process to start over so that viable alternatives can be considered. Supporters say that the parking deck is in a wooded hillside and only 80 mature trees would be destroyed, the deck would not damage a lot of greenspace, and it would be easier for people who want to drive to the park. In January 2006 the Parking Deck measure passed the Atlanta City Council. Construction on the Deck is set to begin in Summer 2006. REFERENCES
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