Hope-Hill Elementary to Get New Playground

by Brenda J. Muhammad

OLD FOURTH WARD — In what has been an exciting year for Hope-Hill Elementary, the school has won two major victories this year with the implementation of a pre-K program and the announcement of plans for a playground for students.

The only Atlanta Public Schools elementary institution without a playground, the go-ahead has now been given to design and install a pre-K playground on the southeast corner of a field owned by the City of Atlanta.

The land sits behind the school, which is at 112 Boulevard NE, just off off Irwin Street.

The city is donating the land at Irwin and Jackson streets to be used for the playground.

This shows what can happen when the community, elected and appointed officials work together. This is a much-hoped for addition, and now our hopes and dreams are coming to fruition on the hill for children.

Earlier this year the APS Board of Education voted to reinstate a pre-K program at Hope-Hill as part of the Grady Cluster of public schools. A pre-K program will fill a growing need in the neighborhood where more and more residents are having children.

Working with me were District 2 Atlanta City Councilman Kwanza Hall, Forrest Coley, chairman of Neighborhood Planning Unit-M, Wayne Reimer and Hope-Hill Parent Teacher Association President Priscilla Borders.

The community has been a strong advocate for improvements to the school. As a community, we are elated over the value that this new playground brings to our children. Special thanks to the Atlanta Public Schools Administration for its successful negotiations.

Ms. Muhammad is Atlanta Public Schools Board District 1 representative, which includes Old Fourth Ward, Inman Park and Grant Park, among other communities.