Approximately 1,000 people use the park’s Internet service each month
Following an inaugural year that saw a steady increase in utilization and impact, Georgia’s Own announced it will fund a second year of free Wi-Fi at Woodruff Park as part of its continued commitment to supporting the park and its goals for the community.
From the program’s inception in October 2018, during which 376 unique users logged on for 736 total sessions, Internet usage has grown throughout the year to approximately 1,000 users per month, with an average of three sessions per user. In October 2019, the park welcomed 980 unique users – 665 of them new – totaling 3,194 sessions.
“Having free Wi-Fi in Woodruff Park has helped us activate the Park and provided our visitors with an essential amenity, enabling us to do many more types of activities,” said Ansley Whipple, project manager for Woodruff Park. “Wi-Fi also helps make the park a more equitable public space, as it is free and open for anyone to use. From homework to entertainment to job searching, we are grateful to Georgia’s Own for providing our visitors with infinitely more to do when they come to Woodruff.”
According to the Project for Public Spaces, encouraging community use of public spaces like Woodruff Park does more than just give people a place to hang out – it actually fosters economic growth. MIT’s Places in the Making report agrees, emphasizing the need for public/private partnerships in placemaking investments like free public Wi-Fi to help create thriving communities where current and potential employees are happy to live and work.
“While we consider the entire state to be our community, Woodruff Park holds a special place in our hearts, as we overlook it every day from our headquarters at 100 Peachtree,” said Georgia’s Own CEO Dave Preter. “We are thrilled the free public Wi-Fi has been so well-received and are looking forward to seeing its impact continue to grow in the second year of our partnership.”
This was one of the final initiatives in the yearlong “85 Acts of Kindness” campaign, during which Georgia’s Own has celebrated its 85th anniversary by serving the public good in unique and unexpected ways.
