Glenwood Park is a unique neighborhood between Grant Park and East Atlanta, two miles from downtown, developed to embody the principles of new urbanism. Conceived as a community that would feel like a small town with a classic main street environment, it's a 28-acre "green" showplace that was reclaimed from a brownfield strewn with concrete from an abandoned concrete recycling facility.
The development is a walkable neighborhood with a town square; on-street parallel parking; tree-lined streets; pocket parks; a pool; office space; civic buildings; and a thriving mix of retail establishments. It’s a testament to the developers' belief in "the good life" – living in a diverse neighborhood where it's possible to walk short distances to interesting destinations, experience nature and still be in Atlanta.
The first residents moved in back in 2004.
For its use of environmentally conscious building features, water management, landscaping and civic involvement, Glenwood Park is a certified EarthCraft Community. EarthCraft standards were developed by the Southface Energy Institute and the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association. Glenwood Park offers condominiums above shops, townhouses and detached single family homes. And common green features include, reclaimed wood flooring; low-VOC flooring; no-VOC and bio-resistant paint; tankless water heaters; programmable thermostats and lighting control systems; ENERGY STAR lighting and appliances; high-efficiency HEPA filters; and high-performance windows.
Glenwood Park is on the Atlanta BeltLine, which is a 22-mile loop of historic rail lines that is being turned into a ring of transit, greenspace and trails that will connect Atlanta's neighborhoods and improve overall quality of life. Just a mile from the neighborhood are two MARTA rail stations.
Residents can become members of the Glenwood Park pool, a Junior Olympic-size pool that is five feet deep. For young kids, there's a fountain play area like the one so popular at Centennial Park downtown. A fitness room and a picnic area add to the options for enjoying living at Glenwood Park.
Half a mile from Glenwood Park is Parkside Elementary. A mile to the southeast is the Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School in Grant Park for grades K-5. There is a second campus for middle school grades. King Middle School on the west side of Grant Park also serves Glenwood Park students.
Also close by is Wesley International Academy, a public charter school for grades K-8 that is open to any student living within the city limits and awards admission by means of a lottery. Wesley is an International Baccalaureate (IB) Program World School. Every child in the school has a 45-minute Mandarin Chinese class daily, beginning in kindergarten. A unique aspect of education at Wesley is single-gender classes.
Maynard Holbrook Jackson High School, only a quarter mile from Glenwood Park, is one of only two Atlanta high schools that is an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program World School. In addition, Jackson maintains relationships with influential community partners, including Delta Air Lines, IBM, Georgia Pacific, GE Energy, Georgia Tech, Emory University, Spelman College and Morehouse School of Medicine.
Jackson underwent a major renovation in 2013-2014.