Charlie Loudermilk Park

Anchoring a critical intersection in the heart of Buckhead Village, Charlie Loudermilk Park needed a redevelopment solution that addressed both pedestrian safety and connectivity. The overarching residential district of Buckhead had been consistently identified as one of the communities in Atlanta with the least amount of open space. Recognizing the opportunity for a quality public greenspace, Buckhead Community District retained the design services of HGOR, who also master planned the overall neighborhood in 2014, to transform the underutilized space into a local destination. The park honors Charlie Loudermilk, philanthropist, businessman and owner of many of the surrounding buildings and lots with a life-size sculpture of him in the park.

The redevelopment allows for visual porosity throughout the park from all sides, with its edges transitioning into crosswalks reaching neighboring retail, hospitality and restaurant venues. User safety is further heightened through the application of SPI overlay streetscape standards, creating wide walking zones and intuitive crossing points for pedestrians. The park is designed to “talk” to the adjacent Buckhead Theatre, leveraging the flexibility of the space as a spill-out gathering point.

Defining features include a central lawn panel, terraced seating areas shaded by both tree and structured canopies, a 60-foot long water feature, sculpture designed by renowned architect John Portman and a 55-foot tall bell tower. Buckhead’s character is imbued into the site through a statue of Charlie Loudermilk, the park’s honoree, and two historic signs picturing local landmarks. Stormwater management is highlighted in a vertical drainage sand system underneath the central lawn, handling the first inch of rainfall and extending the life and quality of the turf itself.

Simple in form, Charlie Loudermilk Park is designed to easily transition for a variety of programming needs, maximizing its usage and catalyzing public/private partnerships with Buckhead CID and groups running events such as movie nights or Yoga in the Park. Construction was completed in March of 2015 and the project was awarded Buckhead Business Association’s Beautification Award the year after.

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