Private Donations to Support “The Gateway” and Other Priority Projects
ATLANTA (November 16, 2012) – The Atlanta BeltLine Partnership today announced it will receive a generous grant from the Woodruff Foundation to support the Atlanta BeltLine project’s expansion, specifically the development of the Gateway connecting the Eastside Trail to Historic Fourth Ward Park. The $3 million dollar grant will also support the development of the portion of the Eastside Trail through Reynoldstown; design for this trail segment will begin by the end of the year.
“The Atlanta BeltLine is a critical priority for the City of Atlanta, and the private sector has been a tremendous partner in its accelerated progress over the last several years,” said Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed. “I applaud the Woodruff Foundation for their generous gift and confidence in the Atlanta BeltLine’s ability to connect communities, revitalize neighborhoods and redevelop entire areas of Atlanta. This ambitious project is a national model for other cities to follow and is transforming the way we move around Atlanta. I am hopeful that this private funding will spur others in our city’s vibrant corporate community to help out financially as well.”
“This legacy gift from the Woodruff Foundation represents a commitment to Atlanta’s future and one of the most ambitious economic development and infrastructure projects in the country,” said Duriya Farooqui, Chief Operating Officer for the City of Atlanta. “I am grateful for their support and the continued support from the private sector. Without the strong support of our business and philanthropic partners, the Atlanta BeltLine would not be what it is today and what we all know it WILL be in the future.”
“The Woodruff Foundation’s investment in the Atlanta BeltLine is a testimony to the value it sees in the development of what is Atlanta’s most ambitious economic redevelopment project,” said Atlanta BeltLine Partnership Executive Director Valarie Wilson. “We are so grateful for the incredible support the private sector has continued to lend to enable this transformative project to fulfill its vision of a healthier city.” With this contribution, private sector investment in the project now exceeds $41 million.
