New Property Acquired to Connect the Atlanta BeltLine with Historic Fourth Ward Park

ATLANTA, GA. – On the last day of 2012, Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. (ABI) purchased a critical property from The Trust for Public Land that will connect the recently opened Eastside Trail with Historic Fourth Ward Park. Funding for the acquisition came from private donations to the Atlanta BeltLine Partnership Capital Campaign. This “Gateway” connection, when completed, will for the first time link this new park to the rest of the Atlanta BeltLine, which connects to Piedmont Park and the Freedom Park Trail leading to the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library complex.

“This acquisition is another critical milestone for the Atlanta BeltLine that will connect two of the city’s newest and most inspiring public places,” said Lisa Gordon, Chief Operating Officer and interim leader of ABI. “We are grateful for the strong partnerships that have brought the Atlanta BeltLine so far along, and The Trust for Public Land has been integral to our efforts since the very beginning.”

The Trust for Public Land purchased the 0.76 acre property adjacent to The Masquerade, south of North Avenue, in 2005. A recent donation to The Atlanta BeltLine Partnership Capital Campaign allowed Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. to complete the transaction with The Trust for Public Land and assume ownership.

“Small properties can have big impacts on connectivity, quality of life, and recreation in a city. This connector from Historic Fourth Ward Park to the Eastside Trail strengthens the entire Atlanta BeltLine,” said Curt Soper, The Trust for Public Land’s Georgia state director. “We are grateful to our partners for their shared resilience with completing this important trail connection.”

“Philanthropic supporters encouraged by Atlanta BeltLine progress continue to invest in the project,” said Valarie Wilson, Executive Director for The Atlanta BeltLine Partnership. “We’re pleased that their support is funding this crucial connection.”

Design is now underway for the Gateway connection between the Eastside Trail and Historic Fourth Ward Park. Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. entered into a contract with Tunnell – Spangler – Walsh & Associates (TSW) for the design of the Gateway in December 2012. Construction is expected to begin later in 2013 with completion in 2014.

Since 2005, The Trust for Public Land has worked with Atlanta BeltLine project partners to acquire strategic properties to develop the Atlanta BeltLine’s network of new public parks and multi-use trails circling Atlanta and connecting 45 neighborhoods. ABI and the City of Atlanta have purchased many of these properties, some of which are now new parks including Historic Fourth Ward Park and Boulevard Crossing Park.

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. The Atlanta BeltLine Partnership (ABLP) is a non-profit organization committed to raising funds from private and philanthropic sources to support the Atlanta BeltLine, working with the community and partners to raise general awareness and support, and serving as a catalyst to mobilize resources to address social concerns.  For more information on the Atlanta BeltLine, please visit www.BeltLine.org.

About The Trust for Public Land

Founded in 1972, The Trust for Public Land is the leading nonprofit working to conserve land for people. Operating from more than 30 offices nationwide, The Trust for Public Land has protected more than three million acres from the inner city to the wilderness and helped generate more than $34 billion in public funds for conservation. Nearly ten million people live within a ten-minute walk of a Trust for Public Land park, garden, or natural area, and millions more visit these sites every year. Learn more at tpl.org.

 

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  1. The efforts on behalf of the Atlanta Beltline, which most certainly include past efforts of Brian Leary, whom origniated the efforts, have had a most meaningful imprint in Atlanta’s landscape and the efforts to provide quality activity. I hope each and all have an opportunity to experience a stroll (run, bike, walk) through the segments as they evolve.

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