HBCU Success Stories: Clark Atlanta University

Park Street Church Restoration Project

Project Description

Clark Atlanta University was founded in 1988 in Atlanta, Georgia after the merge of two institutions of higher education: Atlanta University (1865) and Clark College (1869). Clark Atlanta University is a part of the Atlanta University Center Historic District, which encompasses historically significant buildings on the HBCU campuses of Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Morris Brown College, and Spelman Colleges, and the Interdenominational Theological Center. Although the Clark Atlanta University’s Park Street Methodist Episcopal Church lies outside the Atlanta University Center Historic District it is individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places. After Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination, the Park Street Church was instrumental in providing community assistance to the mourners that traveled to Atlanta for Dr. King's public funeral. Clark Atlanta University has received two HBCU grants to rehabilitate the church and restore its roof.

Impact

"We are truly appreciative of the award provided by the National Park Service to help restore the historic Park Street Church located on the campus of Clark Atlanta University. It has been an absolute pleasure working with our program manager, Mrs. Jessica Ottley. The timely responses and feedback are very helpful in getting our reports submitted correctly and on time. The awarding of this grant to help with the restoration of Park Street Church has made a huge impact on how the campus community views historic structures and the necessity to continue to preserve and restore notable sites at HBCUs. "- Rico D. Chapman, Ph.D., Associate Dean, School of Arts and Sciences and Director, Humanities Ph.D. Program