Edgewood / Kirkwood / East Lake: Spring Fling Returns and Pullman Yards Stays Busy

Hello, neighbors; it's officially festival season, and our corner of the city is gearing up for a very busy stretch of spring. From the return of Kirkwood's signature 5K and home tour to some "out of this world" immersive experiences at Pullman Yards, there is plenty to keep you moving this week.

- News — We're tracking the return of the Kirkwood Spring Fling, an extension for the serial killer exhibit, and a new strategic development plan for DeKalb County.
- Events — Between the SweetWater 420 Fest at Shirley Clarke Franklin Park and Oakhurst Jazz Nights, your social calendar is about to be very full.
- Government — DeKalb County is weighing a $16 million police fleet overhaul and a new crackdown on short-term rental "party houses" in our residential streets.
- Construction — A major new condo project is heading to East Lake, while drivers should prepare for a permanent traffic shift at the intersection of Moreland and Arkwright.

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Let’s dive in.

NEWS

Kirkwood's 23rd annual Spring Fling festival returns May 16
Dust off your running shoes and clear your calendar for the neighborhood's favorite excuse to block off the streets, because the Spring Fling is officially back for its 23rd year. It's the neighborhood's marquee weekend — between the 5K, the artist market, and the Tour of Homes, Kirkwood puts its best foot forward.

Serial Killer Exhibition extended in Atlanta through May after record crowds, fainting incidents at Pullman Yards
The true-crime exhibit at Pullman Yards has been extended through May 31 after drawing record crowds. Fair warning: organizers say more than 20 visitors have fainted during their visit.

Space Explorers: The Infinite gives people virtual views of the International Space Station
For those who prefer their immersive experiences a bit less "true crime" and a bit more "low orbit," this virtual reality journey at Pullman Yards is proving to be a strong draw. It offers visitors a chance to experience the view from 250 miles above Earth without ever leaving the neighborhood.

Decide DeKalb approves strategic economic development plan
The county's development authority has greenlit a roadmap aimed at boosting high-paying jobs and equitable investment across the DeKalb landscape. For residents in the East Lake and Edgewood corridors, this plan will likely dictate the type of commercial growth and infrastructure support we see in our backyard over the next five years.

EVENTS

Get ready for a busy weekend as the SweetWater 420 Fest returns to Shirley Clarke Franklin Park, bringing a massive influx of craft beer fans and live music to the area. Whether you're heading to the fest or just navigating the local traffic, it's going to be a high-energy week for our side of town.

Also on the horizon: the Inman Park Festival & Tour of Homes (April 25–26) is one of Atlanta's signature neighborhood festivals and is just around the corner — well worth marking on your calendar.

Monday, April 13
- Monday Night Board Games | Manuels
- Atlanta Run Club: Monday Night Runs | Ponce City Market
- CPNO Board Meeting April | Candler Park
- The Surfrajettes | The EARL

Tuesday, April 14
- Atlanta Veg Week Kickoff Party at Patagonia | Patagonia
- Hops at the History Center: Georgia's Historical Recipes with Valerie Frey | Historic DeKalb Courthouse
- Allie X | Variety Playhouse
- Tommy Castro and the Painkillers: Closer To The Bone Tour | Eddie's Attic
- Sheer Mag | The Earl

Wednesday, April 15
- Spring HomeSchool Academy at Zoo Atlanta (K-12) | Zoo Atlanta
- Jazz on the Beltline (Live Music, Margarita & Wine Flights!) | Buena Vida Tapas
- ADULT. | The Earl
- Hippie Sabotage | The Eastern

Thursday, April 16
- Southside Trail - Segments 4 & 5 Ribbon-Cutting | Southside Trail
- Oakhurst Jazz Nights | Lawn in front of The Solarium
- illumine 2026 | Oakland Cemetery
- Sip & Sculpt | Buena Vida Tapas Bar
- Tenille Townes w/ special guest Corrina | Eddie's Attic
- Charles Wesley Godwin | The Eastern

Friday, April 17
- Sweetwater 420 Fest | Shirley Clarke Franklin Park
- Acid Bath | The Eastern
- Adult Prom: Back to the Future | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Improvised Action Movie | Dad's Garage
- Leonid & Friends | Variety Playhouse
- Couch Dog | The Earl

Saturday, April 18
- Edgewood Neighborhood Flow | Our Neighborhood Edgewood
- Scholarship Prayer Breakfast 2026 | Saint Philip AME Church
- Legacy Community Earth Day Festival | Legacy Park
- Spring Makers Market | Decatur Makers
- Psychadelic Rabbit Fest | New Realm Brewing
- Jackie Venson | Eddie's Attic
- Alice Phoebe Lou w/ John Andrews | Variety Playhouse
- The Midnight: Time Machines | The Eastern
- Food & Street Art Tour on the Atlanta Beltline | 99 Krog St NE

Sunday, April 19
- Free Yoga | Wild Heaven Beer
- Market in the Park Debuts in Grant Park Earth Day Weekend | Grant Park
- Mornings at the Zoo | Zoo Atlanta
- VNV Nation | Variety Playhouse

GOVERNMENT

Note: it’s an unusually quiet week as many governing bodies take spring break; if you’re new here, you can see what this section usually looks like in prior issues

Meetings This Week
- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Board of Commissioners April 14 at 9:00 AM. Commissioners will consider a $16.2 million police fleet overhaul, new monitoring tools to regulate short-term rental "party houses," and a rebate program for residents who switch to electric leaf blowers. The board is also set to vote on a "septic to sewer" infrastructure petition and an ordinance strengthening the county's power to close chronic nuisance properties. Note: Fire Rescue training operations are planned for 3211 Glenwood Rd and 1816 Candler Rd.
- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Committee of the Whole April 14 at 9:00 AM.

CONSTRUCTION

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Permits
- 207 E Lake Ter SE — A Land Development Permit was filed for a new condominium project. This is a big one for East Lake, covering the installation of utilities, driveways, and stormwater management. Expect heavy machinery and site prep to begin as this multi-family development gets off the ground.
- 2252 Oakview Rd SE — Commercial roof repairs are incoming following tree damage. This stretch in Kirkwood may see some work crews and equipment on-site for the duration of the fix.
- 1655 Memorial Dr SE — A new fire sprinkler system is being installed at this commercial address. It's a routine safety upgrade, but a signal of continued investment and tenant maintenance along the busy Memorial Drive corridor.
- Residential Growth — The neighborhood remains a construction hotspot with 4 permits filed for brand-new homes and another 4 for major residential additions. Between the new builds and the expansions, the local soundtrack of hammers and saws isn't fading anytime soon.

Road Work

Under Construction
- I-20 Lighting Upgrades (DeKalb & Fulton Counties) — Crews are currently replacing old high-pressure sodium fixtures with energy-efficient LED lighting between Capitol Avenue and Flat Shoals Road. Watch for nighttime shoulder or lane closures as they install new poles and conduit along this stretch bordering East Lake.
- SR 42/Moreland Avenue at Arkwright Place (Fulton County) — Significant intersection improvements are underway to convert this crossing into a "right-in/right-out" configuration. A new median is being constructed to prohibit all left turns, so plan for adjusted traffic patterns when entering or exiting the Edgewood area via Arkwright.
- I-20 Concrete Rehabilitation (DeKalb & Fulton Counties) — This major resurfacing and rehab project spans from Hill Street to Columbia Drive. Expect shifting lanes and potential delays during off-peak hours as crews work to repair the roadway surface through the heart of the Eastside corridor.
- SR 260/Glenwood Avenue Pedestrian Improvements (DeKalb County) — Work is active at the intersections of Haas Avenue, Eastside Avenue, Brownwood Avenue, and Joseph Avenue to install Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB). These new pedestrian signals will help manage foot traffic safely across Glenwood as it connects East Lake and Kirkwood to East Atlanta.

Pre-Construction
- SR 154/Memorial Drive (DeKalb County) — New and rebuilt sidewalks are coming to the corridor between Moreland Avenue and Candler Road. This project borders the southern edge of the neighborhoods, so expect future sidewalk closures and improved pedestrian access to local businesses.
- Atlanta Traffic Signal Enhancements - Phase II (DeKalb & Fulton Counties) — This multi-county project will upgrade signal equipment, fiber communications, and timing optimization at intersections throughout the area. It's a "behind-the-scenes" project aimed at reducing the stop-and-go frustration on major surface streets.
- DeKalb Avenue @ CSX Crossing (DeKalb County) — Safety upgrades are planned for the railroad crossing on DeKalb Avenue. New warning devices will be installed to improve safety at this high-traffic commuter bottleneck.
- S. McDonough St / Oakview Road (DeKalb County) — A new shared-use path is in the works starting at Hosea L. Williams Drive and ending at College Avenue. This will create a much-needed bike and pedestrian link between East Lake/Kirkwood and downtown Decatur.
- Atlanta Avenue @ Adair Street (DeKalb County) — A realignment of Adair Street and upgrades to the railroad crossing are planned. This project aims to fix the awkward geometry and improve safety at this crossing near the neighborhood border.
- SR 8/Ponce De Leon Avenue (DeKalb County) — Drainage improvements are slated for the stretch between South Ponce de Leon Avenue and Ridgecrest Road to mitigate flooding and runoff issues on this primary northern artery.
- SR 8/Ponce De Leon Avenue at East Lake Road (DeKalb County) — Big changes are coming to the Ponce corridor with a proposed roundabout at the East Lake Road intersection and another at North Ponce/Parkwood. If you use this route to head north, prepare for a total shift in traffic flow once work begins.
- SR 42/Moreland Avenue (DeKalb County) — GDOT is currently scoping a project to narrow travel lanes to 10 feet between DeKalb Avenue and Austin Avenue. This "road diet" on the Edgewood border is intended to slow down traffic and improve safety on this busy stretch of Moreland.

Service Requests
- Potholes — Watch your alignment on Alston Dr SE and Screven St NE.
- Litter Removal — Right-of-way maintenance is requested for Paxon St SE.
- Traffic Signal Repair — Non-emergency repairs are needed at the intersection of Hosea L. Williams Dr and Warren St.