The July/August combined issue of the Decatur Focus is available now!
In this issue: The Decatur Square is back! After more than a year of construction, the Square transformation project is complete, delivering a new performance stage, public restrooms, expanded green space, and a play area. The ribbon cutting took place in June. A photo recap of WatchFest '26, the 34-day celebration, is included inside.
In city news: Applications are now open for the Child Friendly Cities Initiative Teen Leadership Team for Decatur high schoolers, and a new quarterly column, Connected Decatur, launches with a walkable, bikeable route along West Ponce de Leon Avenue, accessible on foot, by bike, or from the Decatur MARTA Station. The 2025 Welcoming Business Award spotlight kicks off with Trellis Horticultural Therapy Alliance and Kemper Pelvic Physiotherapy. Property owners are also reminded to clear sidewalk vegetation by July 31 for Safe Routes to School.
July is Parks and Recreation Month, with Community Day on July 17, a Soccer Forward Fest, and free activities all month. Events continue through August, including the Atlanta Dream's free Power Her Dreams Basketball Clinic on Aug. 11.
On the calendar: Pan African Festival (Aug. 14 and 15), Screen on the Square (Aug. 7 and Sept. 11), Oakhurst Jazz Nights every Thursday in September, Placita Latina Salsa on the Square (Sept. 19), and the Woodlands Garden Fall Plant Sale (Sept. 20 and 21). Little Shop of Stories has been named one of the top 10 children's bookstores in the country by Fodor's Travel.
In school news, the DHS Class of 2026 set a school record with 16,026 volunteer hours. CSD honors 16 retirees with a combined 293 years of service, and all CSD schools earned top Climate STAR ratings.
Explore the full issue today.
Holiday Sanitation & Recycling Reminders:
Labor Day - Monday, Sept. 7
Regular services for Monday will be on Tuesday, Sept. 8.
Regular service for Tuesday will be on Wednesday, Sept. 9.
About the Decatur Focus
The Decatur Focus is the official newsletter of the City of Decatur. Supported by the City of Decatur, the Decatur Business Association and the Decatur Downtown Development Authority, the Focus is published 10 times per year and mailed to every household, business and professional license-holder in the city. January/February and July/August are combined issues.
The Decatur Focus publishes announcements and information about the City of Decatur including city services, downtown development, school news, business news, and news about individual residents and neighborhood associations. The purpose of the newsletter is to promote the city and encourage the exchange of information among residents, business owners, and the school system.
Submissions are encouraged and should be submitted through the Decatur Focus submission form by the first of the month prior to the month of publication (i.e., information that appears in the May issue should be submitted by April 1). Combined issues January/February and July/August should be submitted by the 10th of the month prior to the month of publication (i.e., Dec. 10 and June 10). The Decatur Focus also accepts advertising. For information about ad rates, download an ad rate card or call 404-371-8386.
Letters to the editor, editorials, or other opinion pieces are not published. All press releases, announcements, and other information received for publication are subject to editing.
Information found in the Focus is also posted here on Decatur's official website. The deadline for submitting articles, announcements, or advertising is the first day of the month preceding publication. Contact: Editor, Decatur Focus, P.O. Box 220, Decatur, GA 30031, 404-371-8386 or decaturfocus [at] decaturga.com (decaturfocus[at]decaturga[dot]com).
Focus Ads
The Focus provides limited advertising opportunities. Submission details may be found on the Decatur Focus Advertising Rate Card. Ad space reservations and camera ready materials are due the first of the month prior to publication. For example, deadline for January/February issue is December 1.