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Driving through the "Parkside" parish

Drive by ministry will not suffice. But if you were to simply drive through the area that we are moving to in July and will soon be serving through City Church Eastside and the Parkside Plant project, what would you discover?

Well, let me do the driving for you and share a few snapshots and thoughts about the area. The first phase of our new work is exploring. We need to get our "gear" together (mainly a base of prayer and financial support) and then start surveying the area (getting to know the people and institutions that make up this interesting culture of about 30,000 people).

1.  First Stop:  The principal park in Atlanta
We've initially named our new neighborhood and ministry focus "Parkside" for the neighborhoods surrounding Piedmont Park in the heart of the City of Atlanta.  Piedmont Park hosts festivals and concerts throughout the year, serving as a cultural fulcrum for greater Atlanta.


2. Morningside:  The northern territory of City Church Parkside




The Morningside-Lenox Park neighborhood is where we will be moving.If you drive up and down North Highland, Piedmont Rd, or North Highland you will see these monuments marking the neighborhood boundaries. Practically speaking Morningside and Virginia Highland are one large neighborhood.  The Morningside-Lenox neighborhood is the more "settled" and residential part of the area, with mostly professional families.  Virginia-Highland, while still home to a large number of families, also attracts artists, young professionals, and transient folks in need (the homeless and addicted).  
 3. Busy intersection of life, work, and play
I admit, I took all these shots on my phone while driving. For example, the intersection of Monroe and Piedmont, by a large shopping area called Ansley Mall, is probably the busiest spot in the area. (Runner up might be 10th St and Piedmont.)  This mall houses restaurants, coffee shops, a grocery, a gym and other retail space.  It's always packed. 
 4. A challenging place to get into
We will have to find another way to enter.  


 5. Following the Continental trends
Busy streets and sidewalks give this part of town a European feel. So does the lack of churches.
 6. Schools might be a key
Lord willing, our children will someday attend historic Grady High School, with Midtown in the background and Piedmont Park across the street.

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