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Druids Hills, Georgia, one of Atlanta's first three "planned" suburbs, emphasized the need of the borderland, picturesque built environment. A streetcar suburb, Druid Hills was meant to be easily accessible by the commuting elite, while providing those same elite with a parklike environment and opportunities for recreation. Originally conceived by prominent Atlanta developer Joel Hurt as the "ideal suburb," Hurt hired Frederick Law Olmsted (principal designer of Central Park in New York City) to provide a layout plan. Olmsted, naturally, chose a design that placed the landscape at the center: Ponce de Leon Avenue led from Midtown Atlanta east to a fabled, youth-like, health environment. Olmsted's master plan made use of curving, winding roads and use of park space to fill in the intertwined space. Outside of this, large private lots included homes designed principally by the individual lot owner. One of Olmstead's last projects, work on Druid Hills was carried out mainly by his sons; work was not completed until 1936.
Druids Hills, Georgia, one of Atlanta's first three "planned" suburbs, emphasized the need of the borderland, picturesque built environment. A streetcar suburb, Druid Hills was meant to be easily accessible by the commuting elite, while providing those same elite with a parklike environment and opportunities for recreation. Originally conceived by prominent Atlanta developer Joel Hurt as the "ideal suburb," Hurt hired Frederick Law Olmsted (principal designer of Central Park in New York City) to provide a layout plan. Olmsted, naturally, chose a design that placed the landscape at the center: Ponce de Leon Avenue led from Midtown Atlanta east to a fabled, youth-like, health environment. Olmsted's master plan made use of curving, winding roads and use of park space to fill in the intertwined space. Outside of this, large private lots included homes designed principally by the individual lot owner. One of Olmstead's last projects, work on Druid Hills was carried out mainly by his sons; work was not completed until 1936.
