As Associate Professor in the City and Regional Planning Program at Georgia Tech, the avid cyclist spends a lot of time on the Atlanta BeltLine and has a lot to say about projects of this nature:

“The potential effect of the BeltLine on climate change extends well beyond the historical rail bed itself. In serving as a massive stimulant for redevelopment — and new greenspace development in particular — the BeltLine carries the potential to lessen urban heat island formation — the principal driver of warming trends in Atlanta — through the expansion of parkland, tree planting initiatives underway by Trees Atlanta, and through expanded water impoundments, such as found in the Historic Fourth Ward Park and planned for the Westside Reservoir Park.”

Brian doesn’t just like the project – he uses it several days a week. Since the opening of the Eastside Trail, he has used the Atlanta BeltLine to commute from his home in the Lake Claire neighborhood to his job at Georgia Tech. According to a graduate master’s study in Georgia Tech’s School of City and Regional Planning using data collected by Cycle Atlanta, more than 70% of all bicycle trips on the Atlanta BeltLine have a work-related purpose. Brian finds this number encouraging for the future of bicycle commuting in the city of Atlanta.

Brian has enjoyed following the project as much as he enjoys using it. Both he and Atlanta BeltLine visionary Ryan Gravel attended the School of City and Regional Planning at Georgia Tech in the 1990s, and he recalls the revitalization of abandoned industrial beltlines being a hot topic. Now, he sees it as a project that can have a huge impact on Atlanta:

“Down the road, the addition of transit to the BeltLine can reduce both waste heat emissions and greenhouse gas emissions from traffic.  While not originally conceived as a climate management project, the BeltLine is highly conducive to the types of steps we need to take to address rising temperatures in Atlanta.”

Brian says his bicycle commutes on the Eastside Trail are “always a highlight” of his day. As for his favorite part of the Atlanta BeltLine, Brian Stone shows his community love no matter what area of the loop he’s on.

This blog series, titled Community Love, is all about how people have incorporated the Atlanta BeltLine into their every day lives, whether it’s through their classroom, their daily commute, or supporting the project through educational outreach. Read our other Community Love stories here and please share with us any amazing stories you know of where individuals or groups are embracing the Atlanta BeltLine!

This access is a significant step towards connecting Piedmont Park’s new Woodland Gardens opening in summer 2013 and the main park via the Atlanta BeltLine. This new access point is in addition to the fence that was removed several weeks along that ran between the interim hiking trail and the dog park.

Evelyn Street is used to access the parking deck off of Monroe Drive that is shared by Atlanta Botanical Garden and Piedmont Park.  A crosswalk installed earlier this spring enables Atlanta BeltLine trail users to navigate Evelyn with safer and easier access between the trails and the park. Read more about the Atlanta BeltLine’s open trails and other construction updates on our website.

ATLANTA –The Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. (ABI) Board of Directors elected Paul Morris to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of the organization.  Morris brings almost 30 years of experience to the organization, including previous work in consulting and line management roles focusing on transportation, urban redevelopment, natural resource management, public parks, and the development of corporate and institutional facilities throughout the United States and Canada. The announcement is the result of a national search conducted by the Board with support from Korn/Ferry International. In making this election, the Board authorized Chairman John Somerhalder to finalize negotiations with Mr. Morris regarding the terms of the employment agreement.

“With almost 30 years of transportation and urban development experience, Paul Morris brings an impressive depth of management experience to the Atlanta BeltLine,” said Mayor Kasim Reed. “I am confident that under the leadership of Mr. Morris, the Atlanta BeltLine will continue to drive projects that will make Atlanta a national model for urban revitalization.”

As President and CEO of ABI, Mr. Morris will lead the organization that is the implementing entity of one of the most transformative urban redevelopment and mobility projects in the country.

ABI was formed in 2006 by Invest Atlanta for the purpose of managing the implementation of the Atlanta BeltLine project. Working with partners, including City of Atlanta departments, its functions include specifically defining the Atlanta BeltLine plan; leading efforts to secure federal, state and local funding; continuing the community engagement process; managing all vendors and suppliers; and serving as the overall project management office to execute the Atlanta BeltLine project.

ABI is also responsible for tracking and reporting progress on the project to the Atlanta City Council, Atlanta Public Schools, and Fulton County, the three taxing authorities that authorized the Atlanta BeltLine TAD legislation in 2005.

”We had an outstanding group of finalists for this position and we believe that the depth and variety of experience Paul Morris has will make this great project and organization even stronger,” said John Somerhalder, Chairman of the ABI Board of Directors. “This team has done a tremendous job during the transition and we want to keep the momentum going. We believe Mr. Morris is the right person to guide the progress of the Atlanta BeltLine into its next phase.

Prior to joining ABI, Mr. Morris served as Deputy Secretary for Transit for the North Carolina Department of Transportation where he was responsible for the department’s multi-modal divisions as well as a number of land use and transportation initiatives. Previous to that role, he worked with a number of consulting and investment firms including Parsons Brinckerhoff, Cherokee Investment Partners and his own firm, McKeever/Morris Inc.

”I am honored by the Board’s decision and am very much looking forward to joining this exceptional team,” said Paul Morris. “I have been a fan of the Atlanta BeltLine for a long time and am very excited by what has already been accomplished and the opportunities that lie ahead.”

Mr. Morris has received numerous awards and recognition from groups including the State of North Carolina, The Waterfront Center, 1000 Friends of Oregon, National League of Cities, US DOT and the Army Corps of Engineers.  He received his undergraduate degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Oregon.

About the Atlanta BeltLine

The Atlanta BeltLine is the most comprehensive economic development effort ever undertaken in the City of Atlanta and among the largest, most wide-ranging urban redevelopment and mobility projects currently underway in the United States. The Atlanta BeltLine is a sustainable redevelopment project that will provide a network of public parks, multi-use trails and transit along a historic 22-mile railroad corridor circling downtown and connecting many neighborhoods directly to each other. Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. (ABI) is the entity tasked with planning and executing the implementation of the Atlanta BeltLine in partnership with other public and private organizations, including City of Atlanta departments.

Georgia State University students created public art on the Atlanta BeltLine.

Being a temporary art installation, the students were also encouraged to consider the duration of their piece, and the significance of its location. A variety of factors, including the environment, could alter the work from the beginning of the installation to the end. All manner of materials were used for the installations, both natural and man-made. Trees, rocks, and grass were used in installations, as were glass, fabric, and old rails.

Reynoldstown was the backdrop for this Atlanta BeltLine art installation,

All manner of materials were used for the installations, both natural and man-made.

This blog series, titled Community Love, is all about how people have incorporated the Atlanta BeltLine into their everyday lives, whether it’s through their classroom, their daily commute, or supporting the project through educational outreach. Read our other Community Love stories here and please share with us any amazing stories you know of where individuals or groups are embracing the Atlanta BeltLine!

Please be advised that Krog Street between Edgewood Avenue and Dekalb Avenue will be closed temporarily to allow for AT&T utility work to occur adjacent to the Edgewood Avenue Bridge Construction Zone.  The closure is planned for June 17, 2013 through August 3, 2013, weather permitting.

In an effort to minimize disruption to the community, this work has been scheduled to occur simultaneously with the current construction activity for the Edgewood Avenue Bridge.  Our goal is to maintain the existing detour route as much as possible in order to have this work completed before the Atlanta Public Schools reopen in August.  Once AT&T has completed their work the original detour route will resume.

Access to local businesses will be maintained during the period of the detour route and associated construction activity.  Additional detour signs will be installed to direct access to local businesses. The following detour route will be posted to re-direct vehicular traffic around the affected area as follows:

Department of Public Works Detour for AT&T utility work.

Detour Route:

Krog Street northbound

• Left onto DeKalb Avenue  (follow existing Edgewood Ave detour plan)
• Right onto Boulevard
• Right onto Edgewood Avenue
• Left onto Randolph Street
• Right onto Irwin Street
• Back to Krog Street

Krog Street southbound

• Right onto Irwin Street
• Left onto Randolph Street
• Right onto Edgewood Avenue
• Left onto Boulevard
• Left onto DeKalb Avenue
• Back to Krog Street

Edgewood Avenue westbound (This is a revision to existing Edgewood Avenue westbound detour plan and assumes that no unfoseen issues will be encountered at the intersection of Krog Street and Edgewood Avenue)

• Right onto Krog Streeet
• Left onto Irwin Street
• Left onto Randolph Street
• Back to Edgewood Avenue

For more information about this project, please contact the Department of Public Works – Office of Transportation at 404-330-6501 or by email to publicworks@atlantaga.gov.

A self-proclaimed software geek, Tom has worked as a microbiologist, an economist, a statistician, a software engineer, and an officer in the Navy. Tom brought his varied life experiences to Atlanta, and decided to get involved with the Atlanta BeltLine because of its potential to spur economic growth in the city.

 “After traveling and living in a number of places, I came to the conclusion that somewhat denser housing, local recreation, and convenient commercial/employment access lend themselves to a lifestyle that is healthier, with less stress.  Along with that, the strain on the environment, and demand on dispersed services is reduced, cutting the economic strain in supporting necessary community services.”

Tom is one of our original Speaker’s Bureau members, and has a wealth of knowledge about the project. He puts that knowledge to work in our Atlanta BeltLine 101 presentations, educating people about the project and explaining its impact on the city from an environmental and economic perspective.

“There are a number of cities, both in the U.S. and overseas, that expanded way beyond the limits of their infrastructure, ultimately choking their economies. These cities are dying. The Atlanta BeltLine creates a core of stability that should help counter that trend. Healthy, accessible communities attract future business and economic growth.”

Tom also helps out at our festival booths, at special events, and a variety of other projects. He, like so many of our volunteers, is involved not for his own benefit, but for that of future generations. His belief in a thriving Atlanta drives his efforts. The work of volunteers like Tom has a real impact on the economic and environmental health of the region. Thank you, Tom, for all you do!

See how you can get involved with the Speakers’ Bureau and other volunteer opportunities with the Atlanta BeltLine at volunteer.beltline.org.

With brownfield remediation being such a significant component of the Atlanta BeltLine project, the Conference featured Ryan Gravel as speaker for the Opening Plenary Session. Gravel’s Master’s Thesis at Georgia Tech provided the vision for what has now evolved into the Atlanta BeltLine. Thousands of attendees had the opportunity to hear about how this vision can be applied to other projects around the country.

Ryan Gravel, the visionary behind the Atlanta BeltLine, gave the Opening Plenary Speech at the 2013 National Brownfields Conference. Photo credit: National Brownfields Conference.

City of Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, also a member of the Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. Board of Directors, participated in the Revitalization Roundtable, discussing sustainability, community revitalization, and equitable growth in brownfield redevelopment. Lee Harrop, Atlanta BeltLine Program Management Officer, introduced the project as a component of Atlanta’s brownfield cleanup and greenspace creation strategies in two separate panels. Other members of Atlanta BeltLine staff played integral roles in Conference and EPA initiatives, including Chief Operating Officer Lisa Gordon, and Director of Community Engagement Beth McMillan.

The Environmental Justice Caucus and the Healthfields workshop were two such initiatives.

“Bringing Health Care to the BeltLine is a marvelous idea that helps our social infrastructure and connects jobs,” said Camilla Warren, Local Coordinator for the 2013 Brownfields Conference. “A priority on this additional aspect of healthy and sustainable living demonstrates an even stronger commitment to public health and allows EPA and other agencies to provide additional support to make that happen in the communities that need it.”

Tours provided attendees with a first-hand look at the results of brownfield remediation and revitalization, with a bus ride around the Atlanta BeltLine’s 22-mile loop, a tour of Ponce City Market, and a peek at the future development of Southwest Atlanta with the Revitalization Action Tour. Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. team members Kevin Burke, Heather Hussey-Coker, and Meghan Injaychock lent their knowledge and expertise to these tours.

In addition to presentations, conference attendees had the chance to take a tour of the Atlanta BeltLine, participate in mobile workshops, and more. Photo credit: National Brownfields Conference.

What is so significant about the Atlanta BeltLine’s brownfield cleanup? On the Eastside Trail alone, over 1,700 tons of contaminated soil were removed over 2.25 miles. The Historic Fourth Ward Park was 17 acres of industrial wasteland until it was converted into the functional and recreational greenspace that it is today. These projects are representative of the work that will be undertaken on the rest of the Atlanta BeltLine corridor. Brownfield investment also creates jobs and increases nearby property values.

Click here to read more about environmental progress and the Atlanta BeltLine.

The Eastside Trail is pictured above in its brownfield state before construction. 1,700 tons of contaminated soil were removed during construction before opening the 2.5 mile multi-use path to the public. The rendering shows what the future corridor will look like with transit from the top of Three Tree Hill.

“Key to the vision of the Atlanta BeltLine is the creation of economically and culturally vibrant, sustainable, mixed-income communities that are connected physically, civically, and socially that lead to a high quality of life for all residents,” said Atlanta BeltLine Partnership Executive Director Valarie Wilson. “Health is a key component of quality of life, and the public health benefits of the parks and trails we are investing in are substantial. We are grateful to have Coca-Cola’s continued support of the Atlanta BeltLine’s vision of a healthier, more active community.”

The grant was announced as part of $3.8 million awarded by The Coca-Cola Foundation to help fight the obesity epidemic in Georgia. In a press conference at the World of Coca-Cola with Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, Muhtar Kent, Chairman and CEO of  The Coca-Cola Company, said  “We are inspiring our hometown of Atlanta and home state of Georgia to be active.”

The effort is part of Kent’s belief in the “golden triangle” of government, business and civil society working together to work on community issues and comes on the 127th birthday for the beverage giant.

“The Coca-Cola Company’s endorsement of health initiatives for the Atlanta BeltLine further reinforces the imperative role that the private sector plays in the development and implementation of the Atlanta BeltLine and programs to help engage the community in healthier, more active lifestyles,” said Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed.

In 2008, The Coca-Cola Company awarded the Atlanta BeltLine Partnership with $2 million to support the development of pedestrian trails in the West End section of Atlanta, which has become a center for physical activities such as walking, running, cycling, and other forms of recreation.

Congratulations to our race winners:

The Atlanta Police Department won the FitWit fitness challenge, but the Atlanta Fire Department takes home the trophy for the 2013 Atlanta BeltLine Police-Fire Challenge!

Top Male and Female Runners:

Male

1. Tee Mott – 16.34.8
2. Charlie McKnight – 17.36.4
3. Robert Buckley – 17.46.1

Female

1. Tara Gormley – 18.36.0
2. Candace Harrison – 18.41.1
3. Laura Worley – 19.46.4

Click here for complete race results!

Members of the Atlanta Fire Department round the last corner of the race.

Race Day Recap

We heard lots of great feedback from you all following the race! We hope you enjoyed all of the fun post-race activities. And, congratulations to our lucky raffle winners – our sponsors awarded some really exciting prizes – we hope you enjoy them!

• The Atlanta BeltLine Northside 1K Youth Fun Run challenged the kids while giving them an exciting sense of accomplishment. We are confident that there were some good naps that followed the race, and that’s what we call a win-win for parents and kids alike!
• The Atlanta Fire Department stole the show at the FitWit fitness challenge – but the Atlanta Police Department was ultimately victorious in securing the win for the Police-Fire Department Challenge.
• Atlanta Hawks UNIT 21 brought out the games with an arcade-style basketball hoop.
• Power 96.1 (formerly Wild 105.7) provided lively music.
• H.E.R.O. was on site, thanks to State Farm agent Cleo Meyer. Congratulations to Carlos Zomota for winning the Recovery Bucket raffle filled with sports drinks, protein bars and towels.
• Our Gold Sponsor Integral raffle – designed to raise funds to support the Atlanta Food Bank – awarded the awesome NIKE+FUELBAND to Kimberly Williams and an iPad mini to Jeanette Beraldi.
• VEININNOVATIONS raffle for a 1/2 hour sclerotherapy session that includes a venous ultrasound – spider vein treatment ($400 value) – was awarded to Annemarie Smith.

For those that registered for the Active Lifestyle Challenge, your participation in the Atlanta BeltLine Northside 5K earned you at least 250 points. You may have even earned more based on the challenges you set for yourself and your race results. Be sure to log into your profile to see how you did and what awards are available. We have an early front runner for the title of Atlanta BeltLine’s Most Active: Katie Oliff has earned at least 550 points!

Be sure to check out our photo album to relive the fun and see if you can find a photo of yourself!

Runners head into the finish line chute.

Keep Up the Momentum!

We hope to see you at our next Atlanta BeltLine Run Clubs at Park Tavern on Thursday, June 6th at 7 p.m. and one Wednesday, June 19  at 6:30 p.m. at West Stride.

If you have not already registered for the July 13th Atlanta BeltLine Southwest 5K, we recommend doing so as soon as possible. Last year’s event sold out well ahead of race day, so we were not able to offer race day registration. We’re gearing up for another awesome event – complete with the popular Atlanta Neighborhood Challenge!

And Last But Definitely Not Least…

Thank you, thank you, thank you to the 40+ awesome volunteers who so generously gave their time and talent, and our incredible sponsors who helped make this event a success

Award winners attended a ceremony at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. on April 25, 2013. The Atlanta BeltLine received the grand prize in the Environmental Communications Award.

Ethan Davidson, Director of Communications for Atlanta BeltLine, Inc., accepts the Environmental Communications Award in Washington D.C.

Below were the criteria for judging the award:

• Innovative approach to messaging or branding
• Future value to the water engineering profession
• Creativity and clarity in portraying and communicating the messages
• Effectiveness in delivery and achieving desired outcomes
• Integrated Design Approach – Narrative and visual elements work together to achieve the communication objectives.

The Partnership and Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. collaborated on the award submission, which encapsulated all of the communications efforts since the project’s beginnings in 2005. Highlights of the award narrative included: media engagement in print and online at a local and national level; a website with a wealth of content including blog posts, maps, photos, and videos; a robust social media program; quarterly printed newsletter; weekly enewsletter; the Atlanta BeltLine tour program; the myriad of volunteer programs, including festivals and ambassadors; Art on the Atlanta BeltLine; the running series; and more.

We are extremely honored to be recognized and thank all of you who contribute to making the Atlanta BeltLine a reality!