Joyland

Joyland was an interesting place with a very rich history. It is a very small neighborhood that is located in southeast Atlanta. In the year of 1921, there was an amusement park that was built for African Americans in Joyland, but is no longer there. This was the only park at the time where African Americans could actually enjoy themselves. Many farmers, and farmland was seen in this area once upon a time. Joyland is apart of the NPU-Y. The Downtown Connector actually borders Joyland, which is also known as I-75/I-85.

There are many things to do in the area. One of the most popular attractions in Joyland is Joyland Park.This park is actually located at the very center of the neighborhood. In 1995, it ended up being renamed Arthur Langford Park.This was actually built in honor of one of the city councilmen. There is also a street that is named after Arthur Langford in Joyland. Even though the area is a small neighborhood, it is definitely a very nice place to actually live. The area is surrounded by larger areas where people actually do most of their shopping, etc. as well as attractions.

The Joyland neighborhood is located in southeast Atlanta in close proximity to highways I-75 and I-85. There is not much to see in the Joyland neighborhood today. But it does have quite a bit of rich history. In the early 1920’s it was predominately an African American neighborhood that housed one of the few rare Joyland (African American) amusement parks that existed nation-wide during this time. In the past years, it has definitely gone down considerably. Shabby abandoned homes and old boarded up businesses adorn the area in a familiar fashion. Ironically, it’s actually a little sad that it didn’t live up to it’s name. The neighborhood is now a haven for panhandlers and lower income families struggling to make ends meet.

Foreclosures and quick sells, are evidence that the people in this area have fallen on hard-times. This has opened up opportunities for investors to come in and buy the land for cheap. It is still prime real estate and has easy access to several parts of the city. Atlanta Technical College and Atlanta Metropolitan College are schools that are located within a 1 mile radius to this neighborhood. The Atlanta University is also fairly close being only 4 miles away. This occasionally attracts students to live in this neighborhood who are looking for super affordable housing. Some rehab houses in the area have undergone redevelopment and may be an affordable option.