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Axios
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Axios
Bike lanes, pickleball courts and more trees planned for Piedmont Park
The look and feel of Piedmont Park will evolve significantly over the next decade as the nonprofit that manages one of Atlanta's most popular green spaces plans to add paths, trees, courts and play areas. Why it matters: While the park looks good in its current state, "it could look great," Piedmont Park Conservancy president and CEO Doug Widener told Axios in a phone interview. "Someone said you could do whatever you wanted to but get the basics right first," he said. Driving the news: That was the running theme of the feedback the conservancy heard throughout the process of updating its 10-year comprehensive plan, which was released Thursday during its 28th Annual Landmark Luncheon, the organization's largest fundraising event. This year marks the first time the park's comprehensive plan was updated in 25 years. What they're saying:"It feels it's great to see all the great ideas and feedback we've gotten now translate into real ideas that we'll be able to implement over the next months and years," Widener told Axios, adding the park gets over 6 million visitors each year. "We're excited to release it, and we're even more excited to get started on making it real." Zoom in: The updated comprehensive plan calls for installing more than 6 miles of paths for pedestrians, designated trails and sidewalks for walkers and runners, access routes for service vehicles and dedicated lanes for scooter riders and bicyclists. Renovations are also planned in what the conservancy calls the park's " active oval," including new basketball and pickleball courts, three new courts in the sand volleyball area, new soccer and ballfields and play and picnic areas at Noguchi Playscape and Mayor's Grove. Lake Clara Meer will be dredged to improve its appearance and water quality. Expansion: The conservancy also plans to expand northeast to the intersection of Piedmont Avenue and Monroe Drive, the area it calls the Commons. Projects include creating an entry plaza with concessions and restroom buildings, passive recreation areas, lawns to host picnics, two new playgrounds and a rock scramble. More trees, please: Boosting Piedmont Park's tree canopy is also part of the plan. The conservancy on Thursday rolled out its Seeds for the Future initiative, which will survey the health of the park's 3,000 trees and the eventual planting of hundreds more. The fine print: Other plans include improving entrances, restrooms, water fountains and building what it calls the Clear Creek Walk, which will provide an alternate path through the park tree canopy that steers clear of crowds using the Beltline. Councilmember Alex Wan, whose district includes the park, told Axios he's excited about the conservancy's "ambitious" plan. "I think there's something in it for everybody, no matter how you use the park," he said. " If you like coming for concerts or festivals or if you just like coming and strolling through ... there's a piece of the new plan for you." What's next: The project's first phase, which Widener said could cost between $50 million and $75 million to implement, includes assessing the health of the park's trees, will begin this year.
Axios
07-02-2025
- General
- Axios
Piedmont Park's future needs your input
If you have thoughts about how Piedmont Park can become even better, now is the time to speak your mind. Why it matters: For the first time in 25 years, the Piedmont Park Conservancy is updating its comprehensive plan for Atlanta's most popular green space. Community input during that process will "ensure the park reflects the needs of its more than six million annual visitors," the organization said. Driving the news: A public input session will be held from 9am to 1pm Saturday, Feb. 8, at Dockside in Piedmont Park. Zoom in: Draft projects include a new boardwalk circling Lake Clara Meer, new connections to the Atlanta Beltline and completing the park's expansion to Piedmont Avenue and Monroe Drive, according to Urbanize. What they're saying: " Community feedback is essential in shaping Piedmont Park's future, ensuring it remains a vibrant and accessible space for all," said Piedmont Park Conservancy president and CEO Doug Widener. State of play: Saturday's gathering will be one of the last in-person sessions the Conservancy will host to collect feedback. The next session will be held 9am to 1pm Sunday, Feb. 16, at Dockside. Virtual sessions are set for 1–2pm Saturday, Feb. 22, and 6–7pm Wednesday, Feb. 26. You can also give input using the online interactive platform through March 8. What's next: The new comprehensive plan will be released at the 28th Annual Landmark Luncheon, the conservancy's largest fundraising event.
