DeKalb County, Ga. reopened Michelle Obama Park four years after its closure. The official reopening on Saturday, Sept. 26, marked the return of an important natural and recreational resource for residents and visitors while celebrating a new chapter of connectivity, conservation, and community.
DeKalb County named the park after former First Lady Michelle Obama to honor her national work promoting healthy eating, exercise, and the “Let’s Move!” initiative.
The grand re-opening celebration showcased the County’s $1.8 million Phase I investment in Michelle Obama Park and featured “From Forest to Fabric: Rethinking What You Wear,” an outdoor fashion event, OCG News reported.
“Reopening Michelle Obama Park represents our commitment to investing in the quality of life our residents deserve while protecting the natural resources that make DeKalb County special,” said DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson. “This park is about much more than recreation. It is about creating connections and building community, while advancing environmental stewardship, alternative transportation, and economic opportunity.”
The county closed Michelle Obama Park in 2023 after heated protests over the construction of DeKalb’s new nearby police training center wiped out wooded areas.
The park features a boardwalk, a concrete trail and scenic views of the surrounding natural environment.