On his way out, Atlanta Mayor Reed announces Piedmont Park expansion

12/29/2017 -- Atlanta, GA, - Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed jokes during his final press conference as mayor at Atlanta City Hall, Friday, December 29, 2017. In addition to unveiling last minute decisions that he oversaw during his time as mayor of Atlanta, Kasim Reed also celebrated with food and a live dj in the auditorium of the building.  ALYSSA POINTER/ALYSSA.POINTER@AJC.COM

Credit: ALYSSA POINTER/ALYSSA.POINTER@AJ

Credit: ALYSSA POINTER/ALYSSA.POINTER@AJ

12/29/2017 -- Atlanta, GA, - Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed jokes during his final press conference as mayor at Atlanta City Hall, Friday, December 29, 2017. In addition to unveiling last minute decisions that he oversaw during his time as mayor of Atlanta, Kasim Reed also celebrated with food and a live dj in the auditorium of the building. ALYSSA POINTER/ALYSSA.POINTER@AJC.COM

At his final press conference on Friday, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed announced a $100 million plan to expand Piedmont Park.

As part of that expansion the city is spending $20 million to acquire roughly five acres at the corner of Piedmont Avenue and Monroe Drive.

The mayor said the project would “open up the blinds” on the park and that because of rising real estate cost and development pressure, the city needed to move swiftly to assemble the land.

Reed said that a committee chaired by Home Depot CFO Carol B. Tome would work to raise the remaining $80 million from the philanthropic community.

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