Business View Civil and Municipal | January 2021

82 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL JANUARY 2021 course, having access to employment is pivotal. Our population continues to grow. We are very fortunate, in part because of the investments the business community has made in Union City, and the investments the city has made in terms of public safety, economic development, parks and recreation programming, and capital improvement initiatives.” The Atlanta Airport District Convention and Visitors Bureau is another contributor to Union City’s success. Fillingame shares, “They do a phenomenal job of promoting and marketing Union City, so that on the hotel and on the tourism side, we are viewed as a destination of choice. With an initiative to transform the areas on the south side of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the Aerotropolis Atlanta Alliance also supports Union City through a community-derived strategy to leverage the airport as a major asset to drive economic investment, job growth, and quality of life in the airport area.” In September 2020, the citizens of Union City saw the completion of the Highway 29 Ballfields project. This 17-acre park consists of ball fields, a volleyball court, fitness stations, a ping pong table, and a giant outdoor chess board. There are also plans to add a skatepark in the future. Lonnie Ferguson, Union City Public Services Director, explains, “We want to maintain a quality of life for our residents. With this particular park we wanted to provide additional amenities. No matter what everyone’s goal or purpose is, we want to meet everybody’s needs.” Nearby is a state-of-the-art community center, known as The Gathering Place. This recently completed project offers the community a theatre, gymnasium, courtyard and boardroom, along with various multipurpose rooms. The facility provides programming for seniors and opportunities to gather and connect for all residents of Union City. “We are dealing with COVID right now, but we are just so excited to have these new amenities