The South River Forest and the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center

The City of Atlanta owns more than 400 acres of land in unincorporated DeKalb County. The property has been used for multiple purposes over more than 50 years, including as the site of the original Atlanta Police Academy, a site for Explosive Ordnance Disposal, the former Atlanta Prison Farm and landfill.  

The City of Atlanta is currently constructing the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center on 85 acres of the property. The Training Center will support high-quality, community-oriented training for police, fire and E-911 personnel. The Training Center will be integrated with the community, welcoming residents to its green spaces and making facilities available for community use.  

The City intends to preserve the remaining more than 300 acres of property—which includes portions of Intrenchment Creek and the South River Forest Basin—as restored and improved green space for ecological protection and the public’s enjoyment as part of the larger South River Forest initiative.  

Throughout this site, you can learn more about plans for the South River Forest and the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center.