Operation Westside Surge

Mattie Freeland Park | June 10, 2017

Mattie Freeland was a longtime resident of English Avenue in Atlanta. In a neighborhood that suffered greatly during and after the crack epidemic of the 1980s with violent crime and blight, Mattie was a fixture of positivity and love. She was considered a grandmother to all in her community. While she lived, Mattie envisioned a peaceful and beautiful gathering place in her neighborhood. After her death in 2008 at age 93, the community rallied to create Mattie Freeland Park. During our day of service at Mattie Freeland Park, youth from the community joined veterans to help paint murals, lay sod, install a swing set and more – all to create the park that Mattie had envisioned.

What We Accomplished

Completed:

• 200 ft of edging
• 100 yards of fencing

Built:

• 6 picnic tables
• 5 mendocino benches
• 4 garden beds
• 4 trash & recycling receptacles
• 2 patios
• 1 playground

Painted:

• 1 community mural

Truly Living Well | June 11, 2017

Truly Living Well is a leader in urban agriculture, seeking to connect people to the land through education, training, and the demonstration of economic success. They work to bring the community together through their programming, open landscape, and activities focused on the theme of fresh and healthy eating. There’s a purpose behind each project at Truly Living Well. On our second day of Operation Westside Surge, our team was able to help give the farm a facelift.

What We Accomplished

Spread:

• 20 yards compost mulch

Built:

• Outdoor amphitheater stage with seating & walking path
• 12 benches & seating areas
• 2 farm tables
• 2 mobile chalkboards
• 1 trellis roof
• 1 chicken coop

Planted:

• 200+ flowers, plants, shrubs
• Trees & bushes

Atlanta BeltLine | June 12, 2017

The Atlanta BeltLine is a 22-mile network of multi-use trails that when completed in 2030, will connect 45 neighborhoods in Atlanta in a loop around the city. The BeltLine’s Westside Trail is a 3-mile corridor that runs through the Westside neighborhoods and will open in late summer 2017. The trail includes a number of “bump-out” green spaces that are currently vacant lots but are envisioned as gathering places, picnic areas, and gateways to the Westside Trail. Even when thunderstorms would have chased most volunteers away, The Mission Continues crew was committed to helping the BeltLine’s vision come to life through the rain.

What We Accomplished

Removed:

• 200 ft of fencing
• 130 ft of fallen trees, debris &
• Overgrowth

Built:

• 16 x 32 ft pergola
• 16 ft picnic table

Laid:

• 6,000 sqft of sod

Created:

• 1/4 mile mulched trail path
• 1 granite stairway

English Avenue Campus | June 13, 2017

The Mission Continues has a long-standing partnership with the Boys and Girls Club at Bellwood. They hosted many of our fellows, and are the partner site for the Atlanta 2nd Service Platoon. During Operation Westside Surge, our participants teamed up with the young leaders of the Boys and Girls Club’s Keystone Club to transform a vacant lot owned by local councilwoman, Mable Thomas, known as English Avenue Campus into a vibrant space for widespread community use.

What We Accomplished

Built:

• 26 benches
• 5 fitness stations
• 4 stone garden beds
• 4 shade structures
• 4 stages
• 4 picnic tables
• 2 sets of bleachers
• 2 park signs
• 1 stairway

Created:

• 13 murals on boarded windows
• 1 music wall
• 400 ft walking path
• Sidewalk games on blacktop

Quest Veterans Village | June 14, 2017

Quest Community Development Organization offers permanent supportive housing to special needs homeless and low-income individuals. Quest’s supportive services include financial planning, educational, and vocational training. The Quest communities include a Veterans Village; A 12-unit garden-style apartment complex reserved for veterans. Our Atlanta 1st Service Platoon, sponsored by the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation and the Home Depot Foundation, is partnered with Quest and seeks to engage the residents of the Veterans’ Village in service opportunities throughout the surrounding neighborhoods. During our day of service at Quest, we served alongside our partners and Quest residents to upgrade the housing development through landscaping, painting and the building of community spaces.

What We Accomplished

Laid:

• 4,000 sq. Ft of pine straw

Built:

• 20 garden beds
• 5 rain barrel systems
• 3 privacy fences
• 3 mendocino benches
• 2 pincic tables
• 2 pergolas

Painted:

• 1 community mural