College Park climbing wall may remain closed

“We know this is just smoke and mirrors,” Motley Broom told council members before the vote. “You just want to take him down.”

The wall was envisioned during the pandemic by Kai Lightner, a professional climber who raised more than $100,000 for construction through his nonprofit, Climbing for Change. Lightner wanted to build the wall to provide free access to sports for low-income and minority youth. It has welcomed 15,000 visitors since opening in 2021, Motley Broom said.

Motley Broom said the wall is intended to give children “an opportunity to thrive.”

The recreation center and wall serve children living off Godby Road, who have “some of the most limited access to resources in this community,” Motley Broom said.

While the mayor, city Recreation Director Michelle Johnson and a staff memo say there have been no injuries or safety concerns at the wall, Councilwoman Tracie Arnold said she is concerned about safety and thought the wall was underutilized. Arnold said she questions the mayor’s estimate of the number of visitors to the wall.

Last month, Arnold ordered the city manager to have the wall removed, according to an email posted on the mayor’s website.

Similar to Motley Broom, Lightner says he thinks the city will decide to tear down the wall.

“Clearly the decision to remove the rock wall has been made,” Lightner told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution by email.