A modern facility built for a safer Atlanta
After years of planning, dialogue, and determined effort, the City of Atlanta has officially opened its new Public Safety Training Center—a state-of-the-art facility designed to transform how the city’s first responders are trained and how communities engage with public safety.
At the opening ceremony, Mayor Andre Dickens stood before a crowd of civic leaders, first responders, and residents, acknowledging the long and often challenging road that led to this moment. “Getting to here has not been easy,” he said, noting the misinformation, opposition, and adversity faced along the way. “But I will not relive or recount or breathe any life into that past. We are here now.”
Located in the South River Forest area of DeKalb County, the new center sits on 85 acres of city-owned land that has long needed environmental attention. Thousands of illegally dumped tires and mattresses have already been removed, and more improvements are underway to restore the land’s natural beauty and ecological importance. What was once an underused, polluted area is now a symbol of strategic investment in both public safety and public space.
The Public Safety Training Center reflects Atlanta’s broader vision: a safe city, a city built for the future, and a government that works ethically and effectively for its people. More than just a training facility, the site is designed to be a shared resource—a place for collaboration between agencies, transparency with residents, and stewardship of Atlanta’s natural environment.
The facility will serve sworn officers, firefighters, EMS, E-911 staff, and civilian responders, offering joint training rooted in modern practices like harm reduction, de-escalation, and community response. For decades, Atlanta’s public safety professionals trained in outdated, scattered, and inadequate spaces. “Well, those days are finally over,” the mayor said.
The Center’s opening also reflects years of public engagement. Community feedback led to concrete design improvements, including sound barriers, improved traffic flow, inclusive trail access, and historical recognition of the site’s past. Mayor Dickens emphasized that the work of listening will continue:
In fact, new community-focused initiatives are already underway:
- A trail system with bridges and overlooks is nearing completion, ready for families to enjoy by summer.
- A new Community Safety Ambassador Program will bring civilians into conversations with Fire, Police, and E-911 to deepen understanding of public safety roles.
- A master planning process for the remaining land will prioritize green space, trails, and memorials reflecting the site’s complex history.
The facility was made possible through a public-private partnership, costing approximately $120 million—a price Mayor Dickens noted would more than double if started today, likely with less private support. Developers Brassfield & Gorrie and Brent Scarborough were recognized for building the project at cost, and nearly every City of Atlanta department contributed to making the vision a reality.
In closing, Mayor Dickens reminded the audience that the demand for better-trained police and first responders came not from government alone, but from the people. “In 2020, the public had had enough,” he said. “I was right there with them … marching in the streets … asking for more training and changes to how we serve.”
“This is your place to perfect how you serve the people,” he said to public safety workers. “And to the people of Atlanta: This is your place, too. Enjoy the trails, the ponds, the trees, the animals, free classes, and the benefits of world-class training for your public safety officers.”
The Atlanta Public Safety Training Center represents not just a building, but a long-term commitment to public trust, responsive governance, and a safer, more unified Atlanta.
