Atlanta Beltline Opens Final Segments of Long-Awaited Southeast Trail, Expanding Connectivity to Southside NeighborhoodsAtlanta Beltline Opens Final Segments of Long-Awaited Southeast Trail, Expanding Connectivity to Southside Neighborhoods

The Atlanta Beltline celebrated the opening of the Southside Trail — Segments 4 and 5 – now known as the Southeast Trail. The 1.2-mile section of multi-use trail extends from Boulevard to Glenwood Avenue. With this opening, the Southeast Trail now runs its full 2.5 miles, connecting to the Eastside Trail at Krog Street Tunnel and continuing through Reynoldstown and Glenwood Park to Boulevard Southeast. With this milestone, the Beltline mainline trail now totals 14.8 miles, expanding safe, accessible connectivity to the Glenwood Park, Grant Park, Ormewood Park and Boulevard Heights neighborhoods. 

“As a son of this city, as mayor and as a member of the Atlanta Beltline Board of Directors since my time on City Council, I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built together with our partners and our community – mile by mile, neighborhood by neighborhood,” said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. “I’ve seen this project bring people together in a way that’s truly special, and it’s something folks across the country are talking about. They want to come to Atlanta to see the Beltline for themselves. There’s nothing else like it. I’m grateful for the team and the partnerships behind it, and I’m excited for us to keep going, bringing our city closer together and continuing to make this vision a reality.”

“Completing the Southeast Trail is a milestone that people in Glenwood Park, Grant Park, Ormewood Park and Boulevard Heights have been waiting for,” said Clyde Higgs, President and CEO of Atlanta Beltline, Inc. “Today’s ribbon-cutting delivers on a promise to communities that deserve the same access and investment as every other neighborhood along the loop.”

The newly opened segment runs from Boulevard to Glenwood Avenue and will connect to the Southside Trail — Segments 2 and 3, currently under construction. In June, the completion of the remaining Southside Trail will create 18.3 miles of completed paved trail, including 16.7 miles of continuous Atlanta Beltline mainline trail plus 1.6 miles of the Westside Beltline Connector Trail. In 2018, the City of Atlanta acquired the Southside Trail corridor from CSX in a $26 million transaction, securing more than four miles of corridor that made these segments possible.

The Southeast Trail also creates safer routes to school for students at Parkside Elementary and Maynard Jackson High School. Maynard Jackson joins a collection of Atlanta public high schools located directly on the Beltline, alongside Midtown High School, Carver Early College, Booker T. Washington High School, strengthening access to education, opportunity and job centers.

“Today, we celebrate a huge win for Atlanta Public School students, teachers, and families,” said Katie Howard, Atlanta Board of Education Member for District 1. “I am thrilled to help officially open the newest portion of Atlanta Beltline’s Southeast Trail and better connect Maynard Jackson High School and elementary schools across southeast Atlanta to opportunities across the City. Students can enjoy a safe, reliable route to travel and from school and access groceries and other small businesses.”  

Additional access points include connections via Ormewood Avenue and the United Avenue ramp which is anticipated to open later this year. 

“I’m excited to celebrate this milestone with neighbors across District 1,” said Jason Winston, Atlanta City Councilmember for District 1. “My constituents have been clear about wanting safer, better-connected neighborhoods in southeast Atlanta, and the Beltline Southeast Trail delivers on that vision. It makes it easier for residents to get around safely and helps strengthen connections between our neighborhoods. I’m grateful for the continued patience and enthusiasm from the community and look forward to the next trail segment opening soon.”

Funding for Beltline construction primarily comes from public sources through the Beltline Tax Allocation District, supported by Atlanta Public Schools, Fulton County, and City of Atlanta, along with Beltline Special Service District investors. Funding support was also provided by the Atlanta Regional Commission and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Other partners include Atlanta Regional Commission, City of Atlanta Department of City Planning, City of Atlanta Department of Parks & Recreation, City of Atlanta Department of Transportation, City of Atlanta Police Department, Fulton County, Georgia Department of Transportation, Invest Atlanta, and Trees Atlanta.

“Exciting things are happening on the Beltline and in Fulton County,” said Robb Pitts, Chairman of Fulton County Board of Commissioners. “Today’s ribbon cutting means we are now one step closer to having 22 miles of the Beltline trail loop complete in our great county.”

The project includes a 14-foot-wide concrete multi-use path with 3-foot soft shoulders on each side, planting, lighting, retaining walls, vertical connections to adjoining streets, storm drainage, signage and wayfinding and the replacement and rehabilitation of two bridges at Ormewood Avenue and United Avenue. The trail was designed by Kimley-Horn and constructed by Reeves Young. United Consulting served as the environmental consultant on the project.

Lead philanthropic support from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation, Inc. and The James M. Cox Foundation is supporting construction of the full trail corridor.

Media assets can be downloaded here. 

Pictured left to right: Robert Selby, President, Grant Park Neighborhood Association President; Senator Nan Orrock, Georgia State Senate, District 36; Craig Camuso, Regional Vice President, CSX; Councilmember Matt Westmoreland, Atlanta City Council, District Post 2 At Large; Councilmember Liliana Bakhtiari, Atlanta City Council, District 5; Ruben Brooks, Chief Operating Officer, Atlanta Beltline, Inc.; Councilmember Jason Winston, Atlanta City Council, District 1; Chairman Robb Pitts, Fulton County Board of Commissioners; City of Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens; Clyde Higgs, President & CEO, Atlanta Beltline, Inc.; Commissioner Justin Cutler, City of Atlanta Department of Parks & Recreation; Councilmember Dustin Hillis, Atlanta City Council, District 3 At Large; David Wilkinson, Maynard Jackson High Alumni; Rob Brawner, Executive Director, Atlanta Beltline Partnership; Former Councilmember Carla Smith; Theo Pace, Deputy Chief Operating Officer; City of Atlanta