“We should’ve been at the table.” — Canopy Atlanta

Atlanta’s city council recently voted to change the name of Westside Park to Shirley Clarke Franklin Park, despite the two adjacent Neighborhood Planning Units, NPUs G and J, saying the city did not conduct adequate community engagement before approving the change. 

For some residents in these neighborhoods, it begs the question about how much the city values community input.

“This is not anything against Mayor Franklin,” NPU-J member TJ Austin said at February’s meeting. “This is about prioritizing community engagement as well as prioritizing things that benefit us as residents of the park, like picking up the trash, removing graffiti.”

NPU-J Chair Anissa Ferrell also said this was not about Mayor Franklin or her notable accomplishments.

“It is just the way the process took place,” Ferrell said during an interview. “The transparency, the non collaboration, and there’s no paper trail that we actually voted for the name change or engagement… If we’re the NPU, and the council relies on us to approve and engage, we want a better relationship. We want to show that our voice is heard.”

Nearly a year ago, in March 2024, Atlanta City Council voted to create a new commission to decide how to honor still living former mayor Shirley Franklin, who during her tenure created the Atlanta BeltLine Partnership and invested billions into the city’s transportation and infrastructure. Franklin acquired the land that is now home to Westside Park. Of the 16 commission members, Eunice Glover, then-chair of NPU-I, was the only NPU representative.

The commission held a public hearing Sep 24, where members of the public praised Franklin for her accomplishments as mayor. Renaming Westside Park was not even mentioned. Many speakers suggested naming a street in her honor. (In addition to renaming Westside Park, the city council has also voted to rename Central Avenue as Shirley Clarke Franklin Boulevard.)

On Nov. 4, the city council introduced Ordinance 25-O-1622 to rename and dedicate the park in Shirley Franklin’s honor, which was held in committee until January 28.

The only reason NPU-G Chair Torrey Sumlin knew about the proposed ordinance was word of mouth, and not from city officials. In November, a Grove Park resident informed him about talks of renaming Westside Park in Franklin’s honor. Sumlin thought it was interesting but didn’t act on it immediately, assuming the city would bring it to the affected NPUs’ attention.

The ordinance, however, waived the city’s obligation to place it on the agenda of affected NPUs. 

Sumlin had to reach out to Office of Planning contact Daniel Vasquez, who then put the item on the NPU-G’s January agenda through an email sent on Nov. 22. The item was placed in the section for review and comment, and not as an item to vote on.

“We should’ve been at the table,” Sumlin said. “We should’ve been in the room. We should have received an invitation. We should’ve been contacted first.”

Prior to the city council vote, Sumlin wrote an email to Council member Dustin Hillis—who presides over the bulk of NPU-G—protesting the renaming on behalf of the NPU. Sumlin copied Council members Byron Amos and Andrea L. Boone, both of whom also preside over parts of the NPU.

“Members criticized the lack of community input, suggesting it may be a political favor, and noted the renaming bypassed proper procedures,” the email read. “Overall, there is significant opposition voiced to the proposed park renaming without adequate community engagement.”

Amos replied that he’d take it under consideration. Hillis reportedly responded to the email, Sumlin said, but Sumlin could not find the response when he searched his inbox. Boone did not respond.

Amos ultimately voted no on the ordinance, but Hillis and Boone voted to approve it.

Canopy Atlanta reached out to Amos for comment several times, but was not able to talk to him. The reporter spoke to members of Hillis’ office. 

“I do think the process is very important because where’s the line?” said NPU-J Vice Chair Derrick Green. “Who deems what is important? It’s not they, it’s us. We elect them!”

An assortment of planning consultants and residents collaborated on the former Bellwood Quarry’s master plan, which had several advisory committees and public information meetings, including a naming subcommittee.

One NPU-P resident, Lewis Woodson, sat on the committee that ultimately decided on the name. The committee’s goal was to move away from the old name for the quarry, which was tied to the forced labor of a disproportionately Black prison population. Suggestions included John Lewis Park, Terminus Park, and, of course, Westside Park.

NPU-J Chair Anissa Ferrell described the lack of engagement as something that happens consistently.

“Council needs to be more visible in the community,” she said. “Walk in our community. Engage with the community. Talk to not just people that are leaders, but people that actually live here and experience the life of what is going on in our community. Just build a better relationship with us and listen because our voice matters.”

Sumlin said that in his two years serving as chair, this is the first time something like this has happened. Nonetheless, he believes there’s not enough engagement between the government and its citizens. What is happening today is not what Mayor Maynard Jackson envisioned when he created the NPU system, Sumlin said. 

Amos is the only council member he has seen attend NPU-G meetings, Sumlin said. He noted he has also never seen the Fulton County commissioner over the NPU, Khadijah Abdur-Rahman of District 6, attend a meeting.

“How in the world could we have had a voice if you all never came to talk to us?” Sumlin asked.