Old Fourth Ward

Stay active in Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward

Atlanta Beltline. Edgewood Avenue. Old Fourth Ward Skate Park. There’s so much going on in this neighborhood, we don’t know where to start. Old Fourth Ward has emerged as one of the hippest neighborhoods in Atlanta in just a few short years.

Old Fourth Ward is a historic neighborhood in Atlanta. Located just east of downtown, in an area originally settled in the early 1800s, Old Fourth Ward (OFW – look for this sticker sported on the cars of proud residents!) is the birthplace of America’s best-known civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Venture down Edgewood Avenue for bars and other hot spots – you may even find a hidden speakeasy. Some of Atlanta’s top restaurants call OFW home, so come hungry.

Until recently, the main attractions to OFW have been based in history, such as the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site, Ebenezer Baptist Church and the Sweet Auburn Historic District. Visitors can tour restored shotgun houses, Victorian homes and Craftsman bungalows in the neighborhood.

In recent years, OFW has continued to evolve and redefine itself. One big asset to the area has been the proximity to Freedom Parkway and the Atlanta Beltline, which has inspired growth and community investment. An example of this growth is the Historic Fourth Ward Park, dedicated in the spring of 2011. This park encompasses 17 acres of new green space, a two-acre lake, playground, a state-of-the-art splash pad, an outdoor theater, athletic field and a world-class skate park.  You’ll find one of the many entrances to this park at Glen Iris Drive and Rankin Street.Also in Old Fourth Ward, you’ll find some incredible dining and nightlife. Venture down Edgewood Avenue for bars and other hot spots – you may even find a hidden speakeasy. Some of Atlanta’s top restaurants call OFW home, so come hungry.

Want to go?

• Location: Approximately 1 mile northeast from Peachtree Street in Downtown Atlanta
• Getting there: Take the red or gold MARTA line and exit at North Avenue station. From there, it’s a 1.5 mile cab ride into the heart of Old Fourth Ward.

Did you know…

• The original location for Morris Brown College is in Old Fourth Ward. Morris Brown was the first educational institution in Georgia for African-Americans.
• The Historic Fourth Ward Park is the result of years of work among the community, local business owners, property owners, elected officials, city departments and the Atlanta Beltline.
• There is a hidden speakeasy located in a pizzeria on Edgewood Avenue. We’d tell you where, but then it wouldn’t be hidden.