Atlanta BeltLine

When it comes to available parkland per capita, Atlanta historically has ranked low on the list. In 1999, an idea was hatched, and several stakeholder groups in the city saw a unique opportunity to address this shortcoming.

Ryan Gravel, a recent Georgia Tech graduate, had proposed repurposing a 22-mile loop of largely abandoned rail lines for carbon-free transit and redevelopment. The rail corridor, known as the BeltLine, connects 45 diverse neighborhoods, including many that lacked quality park space.

Inspired by Gravel, Trust for Public Land engaged the renowned urban planner Alexander Garvin to produce a report outlining the potential for creating an “emerald necklace” along the BeltLine, connecting existing parks with 1,400 acres of new park land and trails. Then-mayor Shirley Franklin made building the BeltLine a key commitment during her re-election campaign in 2005, and with the approval of a special tax allocation later that year, the project had solid legs to stand on. In fact, it took off running.

As a partner in the Atlanta BeltLine project, Trust for Public Land has acquired some 33 properties, including all of the land for Historic Fourth Ward Park. Some of the first parcels have become Westside Park, where the idea to use an old quarry as a reservoir for the city came from Trust for Public Land ’s report.

Helping acquire these properties during the very early days of the BeltLine project provided much-needed momentum to create this transformational public space. To date, the BeltLine remains one of the most ambitious and innovative urban revitalization projects in the country.

Ultimately, the BeltLine is expected to generate more than $20 billion in new economic development, to catalyse 30,000 new jobs, and to create more than 5,000 new units of affordable housing over 25 years.