City of Atlanta to rename street, park in honor of Shirley Franklin
Shirley Franklin, former mayor of Atlanta, in Atlanta, Georgia, US, on Monday, June 26, 2023. Photographer: Alyssa Pointer/Bloomberg via Getty Images
ATLANTA - The City of Atlanta is paying tribute to its first female mayor, Shirley Clarke Franklin, by renaming a major downtown road and a large park in her honor.
What we know:
A portion of Central Avenue will be renamed Shirley Clarke Boulevard, while the 280-acre Westside Reservoir Park will now be known as Shirley Clarke Franklin Park.
The backstory:
Franklin served as Atlanta’s mayor for two terms, from 2002 to 2010. During her time in office, she led efforts to improve city parks, expand affordable housing, and upgrade water infrastructure projects, among other key initiatives.
The renaming serves as a lasting tribute to Franklin’s contributions to the city and her legacy as a trailblazing leader.