By Ceci Vilanueva
Before and after photos of the Abana Courtyard
For more than 50 years, the Abana Courtyard remained a forgotten spot on the southwest corner of Atlanta’s oldest park. Fenced off and closed to the public, what was once a lively gathering space fell into disrepair. After extensive restoration efforts, the Grant Park Conservancy (GPC) has reclaimed the space and it’s once again open for the community to enjoy.
Sitting behind historic Erskine Fountain, the stately Abana courtyard was once the place to people-watch and enjoy the breeze over Lake Abana. After the lake was drained in the 1960s, the overlook fell into disuse and remained closed and out of public view. Meanwhile, the Erskine Fountain, donated to the City of Atlanta in 1896 to honor federal Judge John Erskine and installed in Grant Park in 1912, suffered decades of neglect.
Before and after photos of the Erskine Fountain
With the help of neighbors and supporters, notably The Friends of Erskine, the GPC restored the historic fountain, its marble platform and bench, and the island where they sit in 2020. Now a vibrant feature of the park, the fountain flows again on Cherokee Avenue. The Abana Courtyard restoration completes the project and returns the space to its former glory.
“We’re thrilled to finalize the restoration of this forgotten spot. After 50 years out of sight, many people in the community have never seen the Abana Courtyard,” said GPC Executive Director Michelle Blackmon. “Reclaiming this peaceful retreat for the community fulfills one of the GPC’s main mission pillars, which is to preserve the historic features of Atlanta’s oldest public park for future generations to enjoy,” she added.
The courtyard’s transformation included repairing the original brickwork and adding a custom-designed iron railing atop the intricate wall, replacing swaths of asphalt with permeable pavers, and installing new pipes to improve drainage and provide irrigation. Thousands of pavers were laid as part of the project, including darker Cambridge pavers around the fountain’s plaza and along the pathway leading toward the courtyard. Different paver colors create a decorative transition between the plaza and courtyard areas while adding visual interest to the space.
The Conservancy also created a rain garden and expanded the green space. A mix of trees, bushes, and plants, including sweet bay magnolia, azalea, osmanthus, and river oats, now grace both sides of the courtyard’s pathway. The trees around the courtyard were pruned to let in more light for the younger trees and fresh plantings below, and colorful flowers adorn the courtyard’s newly installed planters.
Together, the GPC’s restoration of the Erskine Fountain and the Abana Courtyard has transformed a once-forgotten corner of Grant Park into a welcoming space that connects the park’s history with the future. Ready to be enjoyed once again, the historic Abana Courtyard offers new generations the chance to experience this peaceful retreat for the first time.
This project is part of the Grant Park Conservancy’s continuing work to restore historic areas of the park and has been made possible with the support of neighbors and community members who believe in preserving Grant Park’s history, while creating places for people to enjoy today. You can support our work at www.gpconservancy.org/support.
