Thursday, December 10, 2009
News Beltline trail work begins, groundbreaking ceremony on Saturday
Posted by Thomas Wheatley @thomaswheatley on Thu, Dec 10, 2009 at 4:36 PM
For the last three weeks, work crews along the Beltline, the 22-mile loop of parks, trails and (one day, maybe?) transit, have been quietly uprooting rusty, crooked railroad tracks to make way for a mulch trail where hikers can tread and whippersnappers can skip school enjoy nature.
Atlanta Unfiltered's Jeanne Bonner has photos and a report from the field. WABE's Odette Yousef also has a report that's worth a listen. Local photographer Christopher Martin, who's been hired by the Beltline to capture souls and images all along the project, has a gallery up as well. Here's a video report, complete with HEAVY MACHINERY, from WSB-TV's John Bachman. (Other videos can be viewed at the project's YouTube channel.)
After the jump, videos of Beltline progress — as well as details about a Dec. 12 multi-use trail groundbreaking ceremony that will connect Rose Circle Park with Historic Westview Cemetery in southwest Atlanta.
In early November, Beltline officials unveiled West End Remembers, a commissioned mural located at the White Street underpass in southwest Atlanta. Here's a YouTube video and photo slideshow of the project. Created by Georgia-based artist Malaika Favorite with assistance from residents, officials say it commemorates the historic, predominantly African-American community's history.
Here's a video that depicts what's happening (and what's proposed to happen) at the Historic Fourth Ward Park, a new greenspace near the Masquerade and City Hall East. Martin has a photo gallery as well.
On Saturday, Dec. 12, Beltline officials and community members will break ground on the second phase of the project's multi-use trail in Southwest Atlanta. That segment of the trail will connect Rose Circle Park with Westview Cemetery. Beltline officials say there will be free giveaways and a Walk-a-thon. The festivities begin at Muse Street and Lucile Avenue at "high noon." We're hearing Mayor-elect Kasim Reed will also attend, but are waiting to hear word from his campaign.
And if you're in a voting mood, the Beltline is in the running to win $1 million from Chase Community Giving in a contest. If you're on Facebook, go here and follow the directions. Be quick, however — voting closes tomorrow.
Comments (6)
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I've seen the activity in the past few weeks and it's exciting to see progress. But it's very disappointing to hear that it's going to be nothing more than a mulch trail in the near future. That relegates it purely to recreational use. If they'd pave it, it would be an ideal commute route between SE Atlanta and Midtown. And isn't this project supposed to be about transportation?
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It would be an excellent bike commuting route if paved! (And cheap and quick compared to all the other proposed crap) Maybe it will be possible to use mountain or cyclocross bikes on this interim setup--like on the hooch trails. That by itself would be pretty awesome.
Most of the maps, that I know of, have been released. There will be more as more planning is conducted around other parts of the project. I do have a couple of photos that I took of possible alternative transit routes. (For instance, one route that's been considered in northwest Atlanta — and I stress, merely considered — was having the transit run near Atlantic Station rather than through largely residential neighborhoods. I can upload that or mail it to you. (I feel like I'm selling you something illegal.)
It's my understanding that the mulch trail is temporary, awaiting the final planning and construction of the permanent trail in the future. That way people can enjoy the trail while planning is ongoing. Apparently the choice is mulch, or not available at all.... I'll take the former!
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