City Officials Open 35 Acres at Piedmont Park

Dozens of city and park officials gathered at Tuesday  of the planned 53-acre expansion at the park. 

"It's fantastic," said Chris Nelson, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the , the nonprofit organization that raised the funds and executed the park expansion. "It's a lot of years of hard work."

Around noon, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and other officials hit a button to activate the new Legacy Fountain, which features 70 jets that shoot water up to 30 feet in the air. 

"This is going to be an amazing community asset," said Atlanta City Councilman Alex Wan, who represents District 6 that covers a portion of Midtown. "I can't thank the conservancy enough."

The expansion also includes two lawns, a wetlands area and new trails, among other amenities. . 

The 35 acres has never been open to the public, said Bob Hughes, board chair of the Piedmont Park Conservancy. 

"This was a kudzu-covered hillside," Hughes said. "It is so exciting ... We think people are going to fall in love" with the new park land.