TROY GREEN CHASTAIN, SR.

TROY GREEN CHASTAIN, SR.

Troy Green Chastain was a Fulton County, Georgia, Commissioner from 1938 to 1942. During his tenure he envisioned and promoted the development of a large recreational park just north of Atlanta. The park was named Troy G. Chastain Memorial Park after the commissioner died in 1945. It is now part of the City of Atlanta and is the most well known Chastain place name in America.

Chastain Park is a favorite spot for Georgians in the Atlanta area. Many special events are held at the Chastain Amphitheater. The park is named for Troy Green Chastain, Sr., who worked hard to shape the dream for the park. The following excerpt is from a lengthy article on the history of Chastain Park. The full article is found at the Chastain Conservancy.

"Chastain Park is the largest and one of the most popular parks in the city of Atlanta, used for a variety of recreational and cultural activities. It is the centerpiece of the vision of former County Commissioner Troy Chastain for the development of North Fulton County in the early 1940's. It was through the efforts of Chastain, his fellow commissioners and local business leaders that the Park was created and it remains very similar to the purpose envisioned more than 50 years ago.

Chastain was interested in building an amphitheater in the Park. Thomas P. Glen, then President of the Trust Co. Bank, paid the expenses for the Commissioners Chastain and Charlie Brow and Judge Eugene Gunby to visit amphitheater facilities in Richmond, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Daytona, Louisville and Chicago. The Chastain amphitheater is built in a natural bowl area and its design is similar to the facility in Richmond visited by the Atlanta group. The amphitheater opened on June 20, 1944.

Originally named North Fulton Park, Chastain Park was dedicated to the memory of Troy Green Chastain, Sr., on September 25, 1946. Chastain was a member of the Fulton County Commission from 1938 to 1942 when the majority of the Park was developed. Chastain Park came under the ownership of the City of Atlanta as part of the 1952 Plan of Improvement, annexing much of North Fulton County into the city limits.

Troy Chastain owned property adjacent to Chastain Park where he built a cabin. He suffered a heart attack in 1942 and died three years later on August 25, 1945. The Fulton County Commission voted to name the Park in his honor and officially dedicated it in September 1946.

He is buried in Clarksville Memorial Cemetery, Habersham County, Georgia. His wife, Lillian Burns, died December 1, 1973. Troy Green's parents were Witt T. Chastain and Katie Winn. Witt's parents were Green Berry Chastain and Nancy Ann D. Croft."

Per http://www.chastaincentral.com/content/troy.html