Former black hospital, teen center honored

Members of Marietta’s Elizabeth Porter Historic Monument, Art and Murals Committee have begun raising funds for the city’s planned Elizabeth Porter Park by selling bricks to secure funding for a statue that will show former recreation center manager and park namesake, Elizabeth Porter.

Funding already has been secured for a mural depicting the history of the site.

Near the intersection of North Marietta Parkway and Allgood Road, the park is scheduled to be constructed this year and opened next year.

Most recently, the future park site was home to the Elizabeth Porter Recreation Center, also known as “the Canteen.” The building served as a community space for members of Marietta’s “Baptist Town” Community.

Before its use as a recreation center, the site originally was developed in the 1940s during a citizen-led and funded initiative to create an African-American hospital for Cobb County residents. The hospital was closed following the opening of Kennestone Hospital which was integrated.

In 2015, the city committee was formed “to capture the history of the Elizabeth Porter Hospital/Recreation Center” with the installation of artistic pieces within the park, said Marietta Economic Development Project Manager Alvin Huff in a city statement.

Information: Marietta Parks, Recreation and Facilities Department at 770-794-5601.