Ready for a gorgeous new park on the Chattahoochee River?
Mayor Andre Dickens recently announced the acquisition of approximately nine acres of land by the City of Atlanta, anticipating direct access to the Chattahoochee River. It’ll be Atlanta’s first-ever public park with this access, making it another unmissable public space here in the ATL.
Officially acquired on March 4, the new park is being referred to as Lower Paul Park. It will consists of 17 greenspace properties within the Northwest Atlanta Riverside neighborhood, and will facilitate future access to the Chattahoochee River.
The City’s purchase contributes to the Trust for Public Land’s Chattahoochee Riverlands vision—a linear, 53-mile river corridor network of Greenways, Blueways and parks to reunite the Chattahoochee River with metro Atlanta.
“Acquiring this land allows the City to provide our residents with public access to the Chattahoochee River and offer needed parkland to the Riverside community—all while preserving beautiful greenspace for future generations,” said Mayor Dickens. “Partnerships between the City and greenspace advocates are vital for our Administration to continue to preserve Atlanta’s open spaces.”
Specific features are being determined through a park visioning plan led by local nonprofit Park Pride, as well as continued collaboration with other property owners and stakeholders. However, you can view some preliminary concepts, here.
The concepts explain that one of their missions is to “restore the local environment and connect visitors to the unique ecology, culture, and history of the Chattahoochee River”
The park will not only include a Chattahoochee River Trail, but will have a connection to the Whetstone Creek PATH multi-use Trail. As well as being “a beautiful and resilient space that can withstand the rigors of both the human and natural environment.”
Several parcels along Lower Paul Avenue comprise the bulk of the new park, which is approximately nine acres in size. Many residents are already familiar with the hiking trails that have been created in this area through steadfast volunteer efforts led by Riverwalk Atlanta.
We’ll keep you posted on all things Lower Paul Park as the news comes.