Druid Hills / Candler Park: Footgolf Hits the Fairways

Hello, Druid Hills and Candler Park neighbors; it is a big week for our corner of the city as we trade golf clubs for soccer balls at the park and celebrate the completion of the Little Five Points plaza. With the historic Druid Hills Home Tour just wrapped and the Inman Park Festival around the corner, there is plenty of reason to get out and enjoy the spring air. Here is everything you need to know.

- News — From footgolf taking over the local fairways to the grand reopening of Little Five Points' iconic plaza, our community spaces are getting a major refresh this week.
- Events — Prepare for a massive weekend as the 50th Atlanta Film Festival kicks off and the Inman Park Festival brings its famous parade and tour of homes right to our doorstep.
- Government — Local leaders are moving on everything from APS administrative tasks to potential new county regulations for noise and short-term rentals.
- Construction — Keep an eye on Moreland Avenue for permanent traffic shifts and look out for a flurry of roofing projects and safety upgrades along the Ponce corridor.

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Let’s dive in:

NEWS

Atlanta tees up footgolf in Candler Park
The Candler Park Golf Course is expanding its reach by officially introducing footgolf to the fairways. It's a clever twist on the traditional course — players kick a soccer ball into oversized 21-inch cups instead of using clubs — and a smart way to keep the green space active for a broader range of residents.

Photos: Overhaul of Little Five Points' funky core is finished
The orange cones are finally disappearing as the renovation of the iconic plaza at the heart of Little Five Points officially wraps up. The "blank palette" design provides a fresh, versatile infrastructure for the neighborhood's commercial hub while maintaining the eclectic character we expect from the area. For those in Lake Claire and Candler Park, this means a much cleaner, more navigable gateway to our local shops and theaters.

How a spring ritual in Druid Hills became Atlanta's longest-running home tour
The Druid Hills Home & Garden Tour wrapped up its 2026 run this past weekend (April 17–19), once again solidifying its status as a local endurance feat and an architectural staple. The long-standing tradition offered a rare look inside the historic Olmsted-designed estates that define our neighborhood's identity. It's the one weekend a year where admiring your neighbor's high-end renovations isn't just curiosity; it's a celebrated civic activity.

Lucky Loafs bakes up success at Druid Hills Farmers Market
Local baker Lucky Loafs has turned family recipes into a breakout success story at the Druid Hills Farmers Market. This success highlights the growing importance of our Saturday morning market as an incubator for local businesses that actually reflect the neighborhood's taste. It's a good reminder that supporting local vendors isn't just about the sourdough—it's about keeping our community economy rising.

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EVENTS

It's a massive week for the Eastside as two of Atlanta's most anticipated annual traditions return. The 50th annual Atlanta Film Festival kicks off Thursday at the Plaza Theatre, while the Inman Park Festival and Tour of Homes begins Friday, bringing its famous parade, street market, and open-house tours to our neighboring streets.

Monday, April 20
- CPNO Monthly Meeting April | Candler Park
- The Newest Olympian | Eddie's Attic
- Cut Worms | The EARL
- Andrew Montana and Moe Reen Live at Eddie's Attic | Eddie's Attic

Tuesday, April 21
- Earth Week Sunset Tree Tour: Atlanta EastsideTrail | Inman Park Coffee
- Natalie Layne w/ Eris Ford | Eddie's Attic
- West Texas Exiles | Eddie's Attic

Wednesday, April 22
- Snail Mail | Variety Playhouse
- Book Signing with Brandy Hall – Smart Stormwater | Woodlands Garden
- Music in the Garden with LAVAHI | Wylde Center Oakhurst Garden
- Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas | Eddie's Attic
- King Tuff | The EARL

Thursday, April 23
- Atlanta Film Festival | Plaza Theater Atlanta
- Sips & Science | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- CupcakKe | Variety Playhouse
- Polyrhythmics | Aisle 5
- Candlelight: Best of Bridgerton on Strings | The Chapel on Sycamore
- Caribbean Cookbook Dinner | Wylie & Rum Island Bar and Grill
- Melissa Carper | Eddie's Attic

Friday, April 24
- Jay Badlani and Friends Vol.8: A Stand-Up Showcase | BiblioTech
- Ultra Lights | Factor's
- Inman Park Festival and Tour Of Homes | Inman Park
- Patrick Ness with Jill Tew - Piper at the Gates of Dusk! | Little Shop of Stories
- Cece Coakley | Eddie's Attic
- Panchiko | The Eastern

Saturday, April 25
- Family Nature Walk | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Live Animal Encounter | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- 4th Annual Black Effect Podcast Festival | Pullman Yards
- Run Like Wild 5K | Zoo Atlanta
- A Meaningful Feast | Decatur Legacy Park
- Marc Broussard | Variety Playhouse

Sunday, April 26
- Morning Hikes | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- The Decatur Avondale Children's Choir Spring Concert | First Baptist Church of Decatur

GOVERNMENT

Note: our information comes from posted meetings documents (agendas and minutes when available) — latest source document hyperlinked to each meeting.

Past Week Roundup

Atlanta Public Schools

In a series of committee meetings on April 16, district leaders focused heavily on financial transparency and future planning. The Audit Committee unanimously appointed Board Vice-Chair Dr. Ken Zeff as its new chair and reviewed a detailed audit of student extracurricular spending to ensure funds for clubs and sports are reaching their intended programs. Meanwhile, the Budget Commission began laying the groundwork for the Fiscal Year 2027 budget, reviewing staff compensation and federal funding levels—discussions that will ultimately influence local property tax rates. Finally, the Policy Review Committee moved to standardize board financial procedures and updated the district's counseling policy. These administrative shifts are designed to tighten oversight of how taxpayer dollars are managed while refining how students are advised for post-graduation success.

DeKalb County Board of Commissioners

The Board of Commissioners met on April 14 to consider several items that could change the look and sound of local neighborhoods. On the agenda is a proposal to hire a specialized monitoring firm to identify and regulate short-term rentals, an effort aimed at cracking down on "party houses" and ensuring compliance with local taxes. Residents may also see a shift in neighborhood noise levels, as the board is scheduled to discuss an update to noise regulations and a potential rebate program that would pay homeowners to swap gas-powered leaf blowers for quieter electric models. Public safety remains a high priority, with a proposed $16.2 million investment to overhaul the police vehicle fleet. Other scheduled items include a "chronic nuisance" ordinance that would give the county more power to close properties tied to repeated criminal activity, and a $9 million plan to repair roofs and HVAC systems at county health and mental health facilities. Because minutes for this meeting have not yet been posted, these items are currently scheduled proposals and may be deferred or amended before a final vote.

Meetings This Week
- Atlanta City Council — Committee on Council — April 20, 2026 at 11:30 AM
The committee will consider several City Charter amendments, including a proposal to allow committees to fill board vacancies that remain open for more than 60 days and a requirement that all legislation have a primary council sponsor. Also on the agenda is a request for an independent investigation into specific city contracts and administrative actions.

- Atlanta City Council — April 20, 2026 at 1:00 PM
The Council is scheduled to introduce the proposed FY 2027 budget and consider the creation of a temporary "public entertainment district" downtown to facilitate FIFA World Cup festivities. Other major items include a $1 billion contract increase for airport concourse expansion and the introduction of a new master plan for Beltline Subarea 8.

- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Committee of the Whole — April 21, 2026 at 9:00 AM
Commissioners will review a $26.5 million investment to build three new fire stations in Tucker, Decatur, and Lithonia, as well as a proposed ordinance to regulate the sale of animals in pet shops. The agenda also features over $50 million in emergency wastewater infrastructure upgrades and a discussion on new regulations for data center developments.

- Atlanta NPU — NPU-N — April 23, 2026 at 7:00 PM
The agenda is headlined by a city-wide proposal to ban new self-storage facilities along the Beltline and plans for a FIFA World Cup watch party at Candler Park in July. Neighbors will also review several alcohol license applications for new dining spots in Inman Park and the Krog Street area, alongside a land-use change request for a property on Kirkwood Avenue. Addresses for this meeting include 1247 Ponce de Leon and 1500 McClendon Ave NE.

CONSTRUCTION

Permits
- 1871 Gordon Manor NE — Major commercial re-roofing project. Crews are stripping away three layers of old roofing to install a new TPO membrane. Expect some noise and a few extra construction trucks on this quiet Druid Hills stretch.
- Cameron Ct — $60K residential renovation. A significant interior overhaul is underway for this home, including a total kitchen and bathroom refresh along with new flooring.
- 1215 Euclid Ave NE — Commercial electrical permit. Essential wiring and outlet replacement is moving forward following a unit fire; a necessary step toward getting this space back into the Euclid corridor's commercial rotation.
- 740 Clifton Rd — Commercial roof replacement. This mixed-use building is getting a fresh set of architectural shingles to keep things weather-tight.

Beyond the major work, the neighborhood saw 19 minor permits filed this week—mostly for HVAC updates and hazardous tree removals—totaling roughly $39,000 in additional investment.

Road Work

Under Construction
- SR 42/Moreland Avenue at Arkwright Place (Fulton County) — Crews are converting this intersection into a right-in/right-out layout. A new median is being constructed to restrict left turns, so if you frequently use Arkwright to access Moreland, expect a permanent change to your traffic pattern.
- I-20 from Capitol Avenue to Flat Shoals Road (DeKalb & Fulton Counties) — This multi-county project is upgrading the corridor with energy-efficient LED lighting. Work includes replacing poles and conduit, so watch for crews and potential shoulder closures along this major artery during off-peak hours.
- SR 260/Glenwood Avenue at Haas, Eastside, Brownwood, and Joseph Avenues (DeKalb County) — Pedestrian safety upgrades are active at several points along the Glenwood corridor. GDOT is installing Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) to improve visibility for crosswalks; stay alert for roadside equipment and workers between East Lake and Ormewood Park.

Pre-Construction
- SR 8/SR 10/US 23 @ Lullwater Creek — Bridge maintenance on Ponce De Leon Avenue over the creek. This is a critical link through the heart of Druid Hills; expect future lane closures once the project transitions out of the bidding phase.
- SR 8/US 23 (South Ponce De Leon Ave to Ridgecrest Rd) — Drainage improvements along this stretch of Ponce. These upgrades are designed to manage runoff and protect the roadway between the Druid Hills Golf Club and the Lake Claire area.
- SR 8 (Ponce De Leon Corridor Roundabouts) — Significant intersection changes coming to the neighborhood. GDOT is planning two roundabouts: one at the intersection of Ponce and Eastlake, and a second at the complex junction of Ponce, North Ponce, and West/East Parkwood.
- SR 8/US 23 @ SR 42 (DeKalb and Fulton Counties) — Major operational improvements at the Ponce De Leon and Moreland/Briarcliff intersection. The project will extend the westbound left-turn lane to 160 feet and add a new westbound right-turn lane to reduce the bottleneck at this multi-county junction.
- DeKalb Ave @ CSX #639760K — Installation of updated railroad crossing warning devices on DeKalb Avenue. These safety upgrades will modernize the crossing between the Candler Park and Lake Claire neighborhoods.
- Scott Blvd Complete Streets Plan — Early-stage planning for multi-modal and safety improvements along the Scott Boulevard corridor to better accommodate pedestrians and cyclists.
- SR 42/US 23 (DeKalb Ave to Austin Ave) — A scoping project on the edge of Candler Park focused on narrowing travel lanes from 11.5 feet down to 10 feet. This "road diet" approach is intended to slow traffic and improve safety along the Moreland Avenue corridor.
- Atlanta Ave @ Adair Street Realignment — A safety-focused project near the Decatur border involving the realignment of the intersection and upgrades to the CSX railroad crossing.

Service Requests
- Potholes — Reported on DeKalb Ave NE, Terrace Ave NE, and Arizona Ave NE.
- Illegal Dumping — Multiple investigation requests filed for Briarcliff Rd NE and Euclid Ter NE.
- Graffiti Removal — Clean-up requested for tags at the intersection of DeKalb Ave and Candler St, as well as along Moreland Ave NE.
- Right of Way Maintenance — Addressing overgrowth and visibility issues on Fairview Rd NE and litter removal at DeKalb Ave and Ridgecrest Rd.
- Loose Metal Plate — A reported issue on DeKalb Ave, adding to the general maintenance needs of the corridor.