Belvedere Park neighbors gather for cleanups, pool parties
Many Belvedere Park residents like to socialize with their neighbors and improve the look of their neighborhood — often at the same time. Residents don’t pay to be part of a homeowners association, but there is a volunteer-based group that organizes monthly events in Belvedere Park, a neighborhood east of Atlanta in unincorporated DeKalb County. Many times, these get-togethers involve planting trees in the wooded neighborhood or cleaning up creeks that run through it. Still, locals in the primarily residential neighborhood don’t need an organized outing to socialize, says James Hill, a resident and owner of Belvedere Park-based James Hill Photography. “Our neighbors are always coming over to our house. We have a pool at our home, so all our neighbors come over once a year for a party.”
Shoal Creek is hidden in the woods of Belvedere Park.
Dive in at Midway Park
Belvedere Park is home to five green spaces, dispersed throughout the neighborhood. Shoal Creek Park I, one of four parks in Decatur to bear the Shoal Creek name, sits on the south end of the neighborhood, providing a spot for basketball games, play dates at the jungle gym or picnics under an oak. Little league teams take the field at one of the four baseball fields. Residents can try to cool off during Georgia’s hot and humid summer days at Midway Park’s outdoor pool, open every day except Tuesday.
Midway Ball Park has multiple baseball diamonds.
Neighborhood cleanups of Shoal Creek
Neighborhood events often take the form of volunteering. For example, residents regularly volunteer for beautification projects at Shoal Creek Park I, as well as the annual cleanup of Shoal Creek. Locals can admire their progress each July when they gather in the park for the Watermelon Feast: a time to chat with neighbors over a buffet of freshly sliced watermelons.
Little ones of Belvedere Park have fun on the playground at Shoal Creek Park II, Belvedere Park.
Three miles from downtown Decatur
The local food scene is a highlight, Hill says. “One of the reasons we stay here is I can’t stand franchise businesses. Decatur is unique for having privately owned businesses.” Three miles away, 1,500 businesses are packed into Decatur’s walkable downtown. Hill recommends Leon’s Full Service not only for its food but also for its beer and wine selection. Reaching downtown requires a workout of a bike ride, while driving usually means parking in a garage and walking to the busy city center, Hill adds. In Belvedere Park, restaurants and shops are grouped along Covington Highway and Memorial Drive. Despite its name, Westside Waffle serves every meal at its one-room diner. The shopping centers that house these restaurants also contain retail stops such as Kroger and Walmart. Residents can worship at one of the neighborhood’s 10 churches or two mosques.
Belvedere Park residents have many close by options to get out and excercise.
The Decatur Square sits just outside of the Belvedere Park neighborhood.
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Midcentury homes line Belvedere Park
Residential development kicked off in the early 1950s, bringing an assortment of midcentury house styles to Belvedere Park. Minimal traditional and ranch homes line most streets, occasionally broken up by clusters of kudzu-covered pines. Townhouse complexes dot the neighborhood too, offering newer homes built in the 2000s. Houses average around 1,400 square feet, smaller than the national average. Prices for turnkey two-bedroom houses start in the mid-$100,000s, while a four-bedroom new build costs as much as $900,000. The median price is about $315,000. Townhouse prices vary from $275,000 to $500,000.
Midcentury modern homes are available in Belvedere Park.
Midcentury modern homes are available in Belvedere Park.
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Towers High School renovates inside and out
The DeKalb County School District zones students to Peachcrest Elementary School and then Mary McLeod Bethune Middle School, both graded C-minus by Niche. Towers High School receives a grade of D-plus. In 2022, Towers High renovated its career and counseling center, and added a pollinator garden to the fruit and vegetable gardens tended by the 4-H Club and Air Force JROTC. However, private schools and charter schools are more popular options in Belvedere Park, Hill says. “Most everyone we know, their kids are in a charter school.” The DeKalb County School District operates eight charter schools, with nearly 30 private schools spread across the city of Decatur.
Towers High School serves approximately 750 students.
Commute by rail from Decatur
Belvedere Park is 2 miles from the Decatur station operated by MARTA, the region’s transit service. Passengers can catch the train there and arrive in downtown Atlanta in 15 minutes. Residents can reach the station via the MARTA bus, which stops in Belvedere Park. The neighborhood borders Memorial Drive, which connects to downtown, and Interstate 285, a loop that encircles Atlanta.
The local Decatur MARTA station is just a few miles away from Belvedere Park.
Belvedere Park residents can utilize the local MARTA rail lines from the Decatur Square.
Decatur, Georgia is one of the best places to call home in the state. The community is a wonderful for walking, biking, dining on the square or just enjoying a drink in a local pub. The schools are highly rated with strong parental involvement. Emory University and Agnes Scott college are minutes away with Ga. Tech just a few miles further. Downtown Atlanta is less than 15 mins and the Atlanta airport is 20 mins. Living inside the perimeter has been fantastic experience that I would be pleased to share with everyone.
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