Atlanta's Freedom Park Master Plan

PROJECT WEBSITE:

INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROJECT CAN BE FOUND AT: https://swa.mysocialpinpoint.com/atlanta-freedom-park info@freedompark.org

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CONTACT:

Conservancy

Freedom Park Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) non profit organization whose mission is to promote the improvement and preservation of Freedom Park for the benefit of a diverse public.

(live from August 2020 through June 2021) SWA is an international landscape architecture, planning, and urban design firm, and the lead consultant for Atlanta’s Freedom Park Master Plan. Sycamore Consulting, Inc. is a dynamic, woman-owned business enterprise based in Decatur, GA, that provided stakeholder and public outreach services during the planning process. www.swagroup.com www.sycamoreconsulting.net www.freedompark.org www.freedompark.org

MASTER PLAN AT A GLANCE

Process and Framework Summary

BACKGROUND

Freedom Park is an approximately 130-acre park on the Eastside of Downtown Atlanta connecting the neighborhoods of Sweet Auburn, Old Fourth Ward, Poncey-Highland, Virginia-Highland, Inman Park, Candler Park, Druid Hills, and Lake Claire to the Atlanta BeltLine, Martin Luther King Jr. Historic District, and Downtown Atlanta. Freedom Park is a critical link in the growing pedestrian and cycling infrastructure of the city of Atlanta, and offers skyline views, a variety of open and wooded spaces, miles of walking and cycling trails, gardens, a growing collection of significant public art, and historic landmarks.

The current park land is part of a 99-year lease by the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) to the City of Atlanta for the express use as a ‘roadside park’ (this legal settlement stemming from the late1980searly 1990s, also resulted in the creation of the Freedom Park Conservancy, formerly the activist CAUTION Group). Another outcome of the settlement during the park’s founding was the “passive” designation of the park, a restriction that would not allow for large gatherings, buildings, or commercial recreational establishments within the park’s boundaries going forward.

In light of all the urban transformations that took place in the last 25 years since the initial 1996 plan for Freedom Park, Freedom Park Conservancy (FPC) set out to develop a Master Plan that would create a definitive vision for the park’s future in the new century. Between the summer of 2020 and spring of 2021, and building on FPC’s original vision for Freedom Park to be “Atlanta’s most innovative green space, celebrated for its inspiring origin story, works of art and natural beauty”, the design team of SWA and Sycamore Consulting worked with FPC and the public to develop a flexible idea-driven improvement plan for the park’s complex geography. This document is a guidepost for how it is operated, maintained, and programmed in the years to come.

PROCESS

The approximately 9-month-long planning process was largely guided by public input and on-the-ground knowledge and ideas contribution by multiple stakeholders. Important to note here, that as all initiatives launched in 2020, the pandemic-related restrictions greatly impacted public engagement and outreach during the months of 2020 and 2021. The majority of stakeholder and all of public engagement was conducted on-line via social media platforms, a specially developed website with “Social Pinpoint” interactive tools, as well as videoconferencing, presentations, and both real-time and web-based polling. Once the plan is reviewed by the neighborhoods and the City, the intent is that more robust (and hopefully face-to-face) stakeholder and public engagement in relation to the plan’s recommendations for study and implementation will be ongoing.

FRAMEWORK

The framework for the master plan is established based on the legacy of the park’s origin as a site of struggle for urban preservation. The master plan ushers in a new era of Freedom Park’s evolution from a former infrastructural “scar tissue” into a more potent “connective tissue” that engenders unique cultural dialogues, civic activism, environmental stewardship, and simply a richer park experience for today’s and future audiences. The plan leverages the park’s unique history, context, and association with some of the nation’s great leaders in social justice movement by re-defining traditional master planning narratives and focusing on the prioritization of civic discourse. Through this lens, the plan utilizes a framework guided by the public input, reinforcing the common ground that defines Atlanta’s Freedom Park as Atlanta’s People’s Park.

Based on this framework, seven overarching goals for the master plan were established. The positioning of each goal acknowledges the park’s important service as a local amenity, a regional resource, as well as a place of national relevance and international significance. Based on the public dialogue that took place during the master planning process, a community ranking exercise helped prioritize these goals, giving the needed focus to the ideas developed in the course of the project.

Seven Master Plan Goals:

1. Enhance Ecological Value of the Park;

2. Complete the Park as Alternative Regional Mobility Infrastructure;

3. Position the Park as Unique International Art Space;

4. Support Adjacent Neighborhood Vitality;

5. Highlight Local, National and International Civic Role of the Park;

6. Elevate National Significance of the park as Signature Atlanta Open Space;

7. Increase Economic Viability of the Park.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Stemming from the seven goals of the master plan, over 70 initiatives were identified, making the vision more grounded in real opportunities on the site. In order to prioritize future funding and feasibility study efforts associated with the potential projects, a series of five prioritization criteria were developed, with which each project was evaluated:

Five Project Prioritization Criteria:

1. Catalytic (projects provide immediate improvements while elevating the park profile in alignment with the goals of the master plan);

2. Opportunistic (projects that leverage existing partnerships or have a high value-to-cost ratio);

3. Contributing to Public Safety (projects that provide benefit through improvements that address the safety, security and well-being of park users);

4. Big Ideas that Require Further Study (projects that require significant Public Agency coordination and feasibility assessment);

5. Public Priority (projects prioritized based on public survey response).

Based on the evaluation of these criteria, seven Signature Projects were envisioned to move Freedom Park towards achieving the seven goals of the master plan. In order to assist in developing interest and coordinate design efforts of interrelated projects, each Signature Project consists of a series of aligned projects that are to be studied, planned, fundraised for, and potentially implemented as a singular effort. With funding from a variety of potential sources (such as public agencies, philanthropic interests, the community, etc.) still pending, the City and FPC will work towards project implementation once it becomes available.

Collectively, master plan recommendations touch on themes relating to the recognition of the legacy of national heroes, environmental stewardship, places for civic engagement, prioritizing pedestrian experiences, expanding mobility opportunities, promoting cultural expression and neighborhood vitality. Taken together, they re-position Freedom Park as an equitable, culturally rich, and civic-minded urban park within the City of Atlanta—a national example for the importance of citizen empowerment and the value of common ground.

MASTER PLAN INITIATIVES MAP

LEGEND

PROJECTS WITH HIGHEST RANKINGS IN ALL PRIORITIZATION CATEGORIES

PROJECTS IN IMPLEMENTATION PHASES WITH SECURED FUNDING AND PARTNERSHIPS

PROJECT ZONE I

PROJECT ZONE II

PROJECT ZONE III

PROJECT ZONE IV

PROJECT ZONE V

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Atlanta’s Freedom Park Master Plan Summer 2021

A PLAN FOR FREEDOM PARK Background MI PERIMETER ACRES

Born from protest and civil disobedience, Freedom Park is founded in civic discourse, citizen empowerment, community engagement, and the responsibilities of ‘freedom’ to a local, national and international audience. Since its founding almost 30 years ago, however, the park’s neighborhoods and global context have evolved. New expectations from diverse, multigenerational constituencies have brought about increased scrutiny to the criteria that defines its successful performance as a park.

The master plan ushers in a new era of Freedom Park’s evolution from a former infrastructural “scar tissue” filled with lawns, trees and trails, into a more potent “connective tissue” that engenders unique cultural dialogues, civic activism, environmental stewardship and simply a richer park experience. The plan leverages the park’s unique history, context and association with some of the nation’s great leaders in social justice and welfare by re-defining traditional master planning narratives and focusing on the prioritization of civic discourse. Through this lens, the plan utilizes a framework guided by the public input, reinforcing the common ground that defines Atlanta’s Freedom Park.

DOWNTOWN

Candler Park

Druid Hills

Poncey-Highland

Old Fourth Ward Sweet Auburn

Inman Park

John Lewis Freedom ParkwayCarter Presidential Center

ATLANTA BELTLINE

DOWNTOWN ATLANTA

FREEDOM PARK

EASTERN CONTINENTAL DIVIDE

FREEDOM PARK OVERVIEW

Regional Context

From its far eastern tip along the banks of Lullwater Creek, to its iconic Downtown Skyline overlook at the Jackson Street Bridge to the west, Freedom Park’s green canopy and undulating topography offer an immersive network of open spaces stitched though some of the city’s most vibrant and historical neighborhoods. At over 130 acres in size, stretching over 2.5 miles in length, and with a perimeter that stretches over 8 miles, the park offers an invaluable reserve of open space for the city and for the over 35,000 people living within a 10 min. walk of the park—convenient access to miles of trails and parkland close to the heart of downtown.

Existing hike and bike trails within the park are an integral part of the Path Foundation’s 19 mile long Stone Mountain Trail, connecting Centennial Olympic Park with the region’s iconic Stone Mountain. Connections to the Atlanta Beltline trail system offer linkages to one of the nation’s most recognized “rail-to-trail” corridors. Regional transit connectivity can be found within the park through a network of bus stops as well as MARTA’s Inman Park/Reynoldstown Station at the park’s southern tip along Dekalb Avenue.

These trail and transit connections link some of Atlanta’s most historic neighborhoods and cultural assets, including the King Center, the Carter Presidential Center, and the Fernbank Museum, among others. Likewise, the park’s expansive footprint and trail network provides connectivity to adjacent, regionally significant open spaces, such as the Olmsted Linear Parks, Candler Park, and Fernbank Forest.

In the spring of 2020 Freedom Park Conservancy embarked on a new stage in the life of the park by commissioning a master plan that would help better define the role of Freedom Park in the growth of 21st century Atlanta and position the park to live up to its full potential through expanded program, improved maintenance, and more memorable overall presence.

FREEDOM PARK

ATLANTA BELTLINE

NARRATIVE FRAMEWORK FOR THE 21ST CENTURY PARK

Themes of Freedom Park

The narrative behind the establishment of Freedom Park bears form in its unique geographic footprint; tracing its struggle and impact through a diverse assemblage of neighborhoods in Eastside Atlanta. Beneath its surface, however, Freedom Park contains narratives that extend beyond the struggle of a local community, offering stories of both national and international relevance.

The narratives touched on by Freedom Park are laid out along a transect that extends from the birth place of Martin Luther King Jr. to the foothills of Stone Mountain. The park’s connection to national and international leaders, historic events, demonstrations of civic action and cultural iconography form an urban palimpsest unique to the land on which it sits. The park lies immediately adjacent to the Eastern Continental Divide, the ridge line that divides the rivers that drain to the Gulf of Mexico from those draining eastward to the Atlantic. Along the ridge of this divide, Atlanta’s first railroads were built, helping to form the economic foundation on which Atlanta grew as a city. The park is the site of the Civil War’s “Battle of Atlanta” where Union and Confederate lines faced off along what is now the southern wing of Freedom Park. The Park adjoins the historic Druid Hills neighborhood, who’s bucolic Linear Parks were the last commission of Frederick Law Olmsted before his death in 1903, and of Fernbank Forest, one of the country’s largest and most significant urban Old Growth Forests.

Freedom Park sits adjacent to the home of the Centers for Disease Control, where national-level research, policy and communication are conducted to protect against ongoing public health threats. At its far western corner, a direct connections to the The King Center and the birthplace of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. leads one just south of the park into the Sweet Auburn neighborhood. At the heart of Freedom Park, the Carter Presidential Center serves not only as a presidential library, but also as a headquarters to the organization who’s mission towards advocacy of international health, democracy, and human rights continues today. The road that connects the homes of both Nobel Peace Prize

winners, King and Carter, is named after congressman John Lewis, a man who galvanized the Civil Rights movement and without whom Freedom Park would be but another urban highway interchange.

More recently, progressive infrastructure development and cultural iconography continue to develop the park’s many narratives. Freedom Park straddles Atlanta’s visionary Beltline greenway that became a national model for the repurposing of transportation infrastructure and urban redevelopment. It’s bridges and roadways have been the scene for pop-culture videos and iconic television scenes. And views to Atlanta’s iconic downtown skyline are captured daily from the top of Jackson Street bridge.

Narratives underlaying Freedom Park’s geographic reach come together as a palimpsest of urban evolution from pre-history to the present day. In some ways, it took the year 2020 to unleash the dynamic potential of the park that for years lay dormant in its bucolic setting. The pandemic activated linear strands of open spaces like never before, global environmental crisis brought the idea of balance and urban nature even more into focus, racial justice movement was reignited and moved society to revisit interpretations of history in monuments of the past, the beloved Atlantan, congressman John Lewis, who made Freedom Park possible, passed away, and the politically divided country found itself re-defining the meaning of public assembly in the name of democracy. From the perspective of nationally relevant places of urban geography, Freedom Park found itself with an opportunity to lead the national conversation around topics of racial justice, civic activism, environmental stewardship, and smart urban growth.

INFRASTRUCTURAL CONTEXT TIMELINE

Origin of Park as Infrastructure 1940S

Freedom Park was born from struggle to stop the expansion of a planned state highway in the late 1970s and 80s. Slated to tear through a historic urban community, the roadway established its footprint but was stopped through the grassroots efforts of neighbors, advocates and civic leaders. Freedom Park’s unique outline, crisscrossing through seven Atlanta neighborhoods, bears the scar of that struggle in what now appears as verdant open space.

The park’s history traces the history of American urban planning evolution from the mid-century car-centric efficiency model to the more holistic multi-modal and integrated approach towards urban infrastructure of today, with a lot of focus on repairing mistakes of the past and reclaiming infrastructural “scars” for public space. In that sense, the park’s role in Atlanta vis-a-vis another large but a more traditionally designed Piedmont Park, can be understood within the lineage of projects throughout the country, such as the Highline and waterfront parks in New York, the Chicago 606, the Rose Kennedy Greenway over the “Big Dig” in Boston, and the Atlanta Beltline itself.

The existential question for the park going forward is how to transition from the legacy of a scar left by the 20th century disinvestment, poor planning, and environmental degradation to a new open space celebrated for its equitable access to nature in the city, cultural narratives, and as the center of communal life. Like other linear parks around the nation re-purposed from infrastructure, Freedom Park’s relevance to “smart growth” practices is now in focus more than ever.

Evolution of Atlanta’s Infrastructural Footprint (maps based on “The Atlanta City Design: Aspiring to the Beloved Community”, https://online.flowpaper.com/72b006f2/ACDSecondPrintFINAL180820)

RAILROAD NEXUSPOINTSCONTINENTAL DIVIDE

REGIONAL TRAIL NETWORKCORRIDORS NETWORKRAIL LINESHIGHWAY

FREEDOM PARK FEATURES AND DEVELOPMENT MILESTONES

Park’s Changing Context

While only a part of the 1994 plan was realized, the plan itself focused efforts on moving through the park as a linear system without much focus on places for people to gather and enjoy the natural, historic cultural richness of the surrounding neighborhoods. Natural systems that now more than ever play a critical role in the city are largely ignored in the fabric of the park itself. The development of the BeltLine’s Eastside Trail, along with the restoration of the Olmsted Linear Park in Druid Hills, now not only expand the reach of the trail networks connecting to Freedom Park, but also invites a much larger audience to the park.

In 2007, the city designated Freedom Park as the city’s art park with little definition beyond this description from the designation resolution: “…a venue for the installation of temporary and permanent public art…”. The last 25 years have witnessed critical changes in the city of Atlanta and the neighborhoods that surround the park. Atlanta’s Eastside has become one of the most desirable places to live in all of metro Atlanta. This changing context around the park and the surrounding city at large sets the framework for a new vision for Freedom Park itself.

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Conservancy

Atlanta’s Freedom Park Master Plan

MASTER PLAN BUILDING BLOCKS

Organizing a Cohesive Vision

The Freedom Park Master Plan seeks to address both fundamental design issues and uncover the untapped potential of the park. It seeks to address public safety, legibility and connectivity, while elevating experience of park users and celebrating its diverse cultural offerings. Most importantly though, the Master Plan seeks to reflect the insights and aspirations of the local communities, as the future stewardship of the park is bound to the communities it serves. Building on its existing assets, the master plan seeks to protect and preserve that which makes Freedom Park already one of the Country’s most significant and unique urban parks. The park systems of Planning, Mobility, Ecology, Program, and Identity were used as organizing pillars for developing ideas and focusing community conversation around the priorities that could be addressed within these systems. The master plan must first address limitations foundational to its operations as an urban park: pedestrian conflicts presented by an expansive road network, lack of bio-diversity within its landscape, and limited program. The lack of a singular, cohesive identity would then be addressed based on a collection of unique stories and assets that are currently hidden from view.

PLANNING MOBILITY ECOLOGY PROGRAM IDENTITY

Example of design team’s park systems analysis and a compilation of community ideas categorized to inform the master planning framework

MASTER PLAN VISION

Master Plan Illustrative Layout

The static rendering of a park’s master plan visualizes how things might ideally fit together; and while it is not able to communicate the ways in which dynamic systems of ecology, economy and society will influence and modify this vision over the course of many years, it does express a potential for spacial realities developed in conversations, civil disagreements, and activist passions expressed during the master planning process. The following pages will reference originating frameworks and processes that have dynamically informed this static notation, and decode the role of Freedom Park in the vision for evolving city.

Park Boundary

PLANNING TIMELINE

Master plan development has been progressing since the summer of 2020, and is expected to conclude with the City of Atlanta review and adoption in summer 2021. Due to the extraordinary pandemic-related restrictions under which the planning process had commenced, the majority of stakeholder and all of public engagement was being conducted on-line via social media platforms, a specially developed website with “Social Pinpoint” interactive tools, as well as videoconferencing, presentations, and polling via “Zoom”. To a great extent, the sophistication of virtual outreach tools was beneficial to the master planning team’s engagement framework’s flexibility. Community’s ability to contribute information in the interactive format became a driver for the plan’s components. Virtual engagement’s public forum was also augmented with one-on-one stakeholder conversations that targeted multiple topical elements in the plan in order to leverage the existing interest, momentum, and goals of the vested entities. The principle of “including everyone” in the development of the master plan to the degree possible continues to guide the design team’s and the Conservancy’s efforts to date. The current stage of the plan development is focused on prioritization of project ideas in the public forum and developing implementation strategies for these projects. The draft of the master plan report will be provided to the neighborhoods and NPUs for comment in May of 2021.

STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS IN PERSON AND VIA ZOOM

MAIN FPC WEBSITE

SOCIAL PINPOINT PLATFORM

SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS

PUBLIC MEETINGS VIA ZOOM

COLLABORATIVE PLANNING CONTEXT

A Common Vision is an Attainable Vision

Partnerships that influence park’s vision in the most direct way are also future implementation and operation partnerships, vital for the park’s achievement of its planning objectives. Correlation of park’s planning activities to those of its partners lies at the foundation of the master plan, it identifies inter-dependencies of future improvements on a projected timeline of their potential realization.

Due to its size, unique physical form, and position at the heart of “old Atlanta” Freedom Park engages an extensive network of constituents via direct adjacency or implied shared interests. The lines of “ownership” are often blurred, resulting in some confusion over agency and management on the one hand, and lack of legibility for the park users on the other. Master plan tackles this reality head-on, embracing the shared idea of a park that creates mutually beneficial and coordinated vision with the area stakeholders.

For the majority of the planning process, multiple one-on-one meetings with most of the organizations listed in the chart to the right helped formulate a vision for the park based on discussions about common goals. A roadmap into the 21st century charted for Freedom Park in the master plan will continue to evolve with its neighboring context and try to actively contribute to its success.

Inman Park Neighborhood Association Fourth Ward Neighbors Fourth Ward West Candler Park Neighborhood Organization Old Fourth Ward Alliance

Poncey-Highland Druid HillsFourth Ward Sweet InmanAuburn Park

GeorgiaSweetAuburnWorks Outdoor StewardshipOlmstedLinear ParkAlliance Atlanta BeltlineAtlanta Audubon Society Ge Treesnerator Atlanta Trust For Pu blic Land Park PridePATH Foundation

The Atlanta City Design City of Atlanta, Parks and RecreationAtlanta Regional CommissionGeorgia EPDPA

Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs

Poncey-Highland Neighborhood Association Druid Hills Civic Association Lake Claire Neighbors Neighborhood Planning Units Fourth and S.A.N.D.

TheMartinLutherKingJr.CenterTheKingCenter CarterPresidentialCenterHighMuseumofArt

Atlanta Police Department Atlanta Planning Department

Fernbank Natural History Museum David T. Howard Middle School Mary Lin Elementary School Paideia School Emory Center for Digital Storytelling Em ory University Publ ic Arts National Park Service Officeof Congressman John Lewis AtlantaCityCouncilCentersforDiseaseControl andPrevention

Guiding Documents and Neighboring Entities Non-Profits . A g e sei Businesses Institutions bhg r hoods is your Park.

“ACTIVATE ATL: RECREATION AND PARKS FOR ALL” VISION

Master Plan Alignment with Department of Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Master Plan

A comprehensive master planning effort by City of Atlanta Parks and Recreation Department has been taking place concurrently with this plan starting in 2020. It is looking to increase access to exceptional recreational programming, fostering community connections to nature through parks and trails, and ultimately, improving the health, happiness, and resilience of all Atlantans, in all neighborhoods. This is the first City of Atlanta comprehensive parks and recreation plan since 2009 and is based on the most ambitious community engagement effort the City of Atlanta has ever undertaken.

“ACTIVATE ATL” GUIDING PRINCIPLES

1.

2.

To fit into the “big picture” of parks’ future in Atlanta, Freedom Park master plan tracks the priorities identified in the City’s parallel planning effort by stressing the importance of equitable access to public parks nature experiences, recreational opportunities, and multi-generational programming. Findings from Freedom Park’s public engagement process are shared with “Activate ATL “ team to support future policy-makers with the latest snapshot of Eastside priorities for desired activities, nature programming, and cultural aspirations.

“ACTIVATE ATL” STRATEGIES/PILLARS

PROVIDE PLENTIFUL AND DIVERSE EXPERIENCES

ENSURE EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE PRACTICES

EQUITABLY INVEST PLACES

Continue to invest in parks and recreation centers

EQUITABLY CONNECT

Collaborate with partners to ensure safe and equitable pedestrian, bicycle, and transit access

CULTIVATE EQUITABLY GROW

• Expand and sensitively provide access to Nature Experiences

• Provide interconnected access to parks within a 10-Minute Walk

• Provide Indoor Recreation Space

• Expand Recreation Facilities and Amenities

• Collaborate with partners to address intersectionality of issues

Invest in 10 Core Programs:

• Afterschool Programs

• Adult Activities

• Aquatics

• Youth Athletics

• Camp Best Friends (Summer Camps)

• Golf

• Senior Programs

• Special Events

• Tennis

• Therapeutics

• Ensure programming reflects the community and the neighborhoods they serve

• Design Recreation Centers and Facilities for multigenerational use

• Expand Marketing and Communications Outreach to connect Atlantans to the offerings

Pursue trends and next practices for future programs:

• E.g. Nature and Environmental Programs / E-Sports

• Continue focus on Health and Wellness

Strategies and Pillars relate to training, staffing, and operations. For more information, visit the ActivateATL Master Plan at www.activate-atl.com.

“ATLANTA CITY DESIGN” VALUES-DRIVEN DIRECTIVE

Master Plan Response to City Vision

Designing for Atlanta’s future is anticipating how population and economic growth will have an impact on the city form. “Atlanta City Design”(ACD) framework for inclusive growth, formulated in 2017, outlines development principles grounded in five fundamental values: Equity, Progress, Ambition, Access, and Nature. Elaborated into actionable approaches to development, a values-driven framework has become a guide to the Comprehensive Development Plan 2021 that will identify policies and projects consistent with the ACD vision, as well as other city-wide planning efforts.

ACD VALUES ACD RECOMMENDATIONS

1.

DELIVER A CITY BUILT ON EQUITY SO THAT EVERYONE BENEFITS FROM CHANGE

1.1 investment and policy

1.2 civic participation

1.3 welcome

Freedom Park is unique in the way its spread-out geography is more than an insular green space with park activities. It performs as an essential urban mobility, hydrological, ecological, civic, and cultural spine, and as such plays an important role in supporting the vision of ACD for an extensive geography of East Atlanta neighborhoods and beyond. Freedom Park master plan proactively articulates a vision of a park that not only adopts and promotes the ACD values, but also tangibalizes how these values can become part of Atlanta’s physical environment and daily life routines.

Below are ACD framework components that directly influenced Freedom Park’s planning approach:

FREEDOM PARK PLANNING PRINCIPLES

INCLUDE EVERYONE- create an open platform for deriving ideas and support from diverse constituencies of the park: neighborhoods, stakeholders, allied organizations.

MAINTAIN ACCESS TO THE REGION WITHOUT DESTROYING THE PLACES WE LIVE

2.3 preservation social engagement PROGRESS BY citywide orientation/wayfinding

RESPECT HISTORY- understand and build on the layers of the park land history, be sensitive to the historic fabric of surrounding communities and institutional lands.

MAKE THE WORLD LEARN FROM ATLANTA- be bold, envision how the park can reflect “the best of Atlanta”and its leadership in developing holistic and vibrant urban culture.

EMBRACE THE BEAUTY AND VALUE OF BOTH NATURE URBAN LIFE

5.1 ecosystem rehabilitation conservation and stewardship infrastructure culture sustainable design

MAKE MOVEMENT MATTER MOST- address the multimodal circuitry of the park and walkable access from its context as the foundational design driver for its systems.

MULTIPLY NATURE- prioritize conservation, expansion, and diversification of the park’s natural assets in the regional context of urban ecology.

MASTER PLAN GOALS

Born out of protest and civil disobedience in the late 20th Century Atlanta, the park is founded in civil discourse, citizen empowerment, civic engagement, and the responsibilities of ‘freedom’ to a local, national and international audience. At the same time, the park is almost 30 years old. Since its original founding, the neighborhood and global context has evolved, with new expectations from the diverse multigenerational constituencies creating new pressures on what defines its successful performance as a park. This master plan aspires to usher a new era of Freedom Park’s evolution from a former “scar tissue” filled with lawns, trees and trails, into a more potent “connective tissue” that engenders unique cultural dialogues, civic activism, care for natural environment, and simply a richer park experience.

The park’s Master Plan mission and vision statements below summarize these aspirations:

MASTER PLAN MISSION

To create a long-range roadmap for the Park’s meaningful positioning on the local, national, and international stages

MASTER PLAN VISION

To realize the full potential of Freedom Park as an inclusive, connected, and distinct open space, championed by its community, and celebrated as one of the best “all things Atlanta”

Consistent with the values expressed in the “Atlanta City Design” vision and the park’s Master Plan stated mission and vision, seven overarching park goals direct its framework development. Goals’ hierarchy acknowledges the park’s important service as a local amenity, a regional resource, as well as a place of national relevance and international significance. Throughout the first stages of public dialogue that took place during the master planning process, a community ranking exercise helped focus master plan development around “regional” level goals as a matter of priority. In order to accomplish these key goals, the Freedom Park Conservancy will collaborate with all affected neighborhood associations on the design, prioritization, fundraising, and implementation of proposed projects.

Each goal becomes the basis of a strategic response, further elaborated into a list of concrete “actions” or project opportunities. The following pages provide a brief overview of strategies that will guide the Freedom Park Conservancy’s effort in realizing the Master Plan’s vision. “goals set of public meetings and via subsequent survey on the project website.

MASTER PLAN FRAMEWORK

Goals and Strategies

GOAL

ELEVATE NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PARK AS A SIGNATURE ATLANTA OPEN SPACEA. STRATEGIES

A.1Develop a marketing campaign that positions Freedom Park within the larger Atlanta’s park network with a signature brand and identity.

A.2Position park’s online platform to increase communication with the public and provide portal for national audience.

Develop app-based tools to facilitate engagement with park programming.

Focus design efforts on increasing legibility of park through improvements to gateways, edges, circulation hierarchy, and park nodes.

Promote the idea of “Freedom Park District” via connectivity extending to adjacent neighborhood, cultural, and civic assets.

Highlight Freedom Park’s varied offerings as a transect of Atlanta’s urban history with focused communication, design, and programming legibly framing and organizing that variety.

Promote Freedom Park as a nationally significant site of opportunistic progressivism modeling the redirection of transportation planning and reclamation of infrastructure for public space.

MASTER PLAN FRAMEWORK

Goals and Strategies

GOAL

B.

HIGHLIGHT LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL CIVIC ROLE OF THE PARK

STRATEGIES

B.1 B.2

Commemorate legacy of John Lewis, MLK Jr. and President Jimmy Carter through development of park spaces around opportunities for Civic Assembly, Procession, and Education.

Record and narrate the park’s history through periods of Native American settlement, American Civil War, neighborhood development, Civil Rights struggles, and the legacy of the Road Fight that created Freedom Park by developing publications, website materials, and interpretive exhibits within the park. The Freedom Park Conservancy will work with representatives of the Road Busters and 1980 CAUTION to develop the history of the Road Fight.

Amplify park’s physical connectivity to Carter Presidential Center, The King Center, and other local organizations with wayfinding and ongoing civic programming.

Facilitate the goals of organizations that promote the historical/cultural legacy of the park and surrounding community via joint programming.

Develop a connection between the Nobel Peace Prize winning residents’ sites at King Center and Carter Presidential Center to attract international audiences.

MASTER PLAN FRAMEWORK

Goals and Strategies

GOAL

POSITION THE PARK AS UNIQUE INTERNATIONAL ART SPACEC.

STRATEGIES

Focus on art that celebrates Freedom Park’s unique origin and physical position between two Nobel Centers. Illuminated by park’s history rooted in civic action, seek to spark the collective imagination and kindle conversation about civil rights and inclusive community action through sculpture and site-specific installations.

Expand the Board’s Arts Committee to increase the capacity for arts programming.

Establish an Arts Curatorial Advisory Committee that includes professional curators and members reflective of the city’s diversity.

Engage in community outreach and awareness to promote a diversity of art and representation by both international and local/regional artists that fit the vision stated in strategy #3.1.

Develop an art strategy narrative that starts directing curatorial opportunities and art experiences taking advantage of the park’s unique “museum wing-like” footprint.

Build an ongoing dialogue with allied art and cultural institutions and partnership with the city’s departments overseeing cultural programming.

Refine the potential art thematic zones and art sites in greater detail (taking into account GDOT needs, enabling of temporary arts sites, and permanent art sites). Establish a hierarchy of potential art sites and explore creative financial models. (eg. Sculpture pads for rotating exhibits paid for with annual stipend.)

MASTER PLAN FRAMEWORK

Goals and Strategies

GOAL

COMPLETE THE PARK AS ALTERNATIVE REGIONAL MOBILITY INFRASTRUCTURE

STRATEGIES

D.1 D.2

Create seamless movement along a legible, continuous regional trail from Downtown to Olmsted Linear Parks (continuing on to Stone Mountain) with safety improvements and branded wayfinding.

Enhance visibility and access to and from MARTA Station at Dekalb Ave.

Develop additional direct trail connections from Freedom Park to the Beltline.

Optimize pedestrian and bike connectivity to Carter Presidential Center from surrounding community short-term by localized crossing safety measures and long-term by consolidation of vehicular road network and repurposing of the single lane roadway as a multi-use trail.

Improve navigation in and around the park with a combination of a digital app-based and physical signage and wayfinding.

Provide speed separation measures within the park with painted striping and a secondary path system.

Provide generous pedestrian areas and traffic calming measures at vehicular crossings.

MASTER PLAN FRAMEWORK

Goals and Strategies

GOAL

ENHANCE REGIONAL ECOLOGICAL VALUE OF THE PARKE.

STRATEGIES

Develop metrics by which to measure park’s ecological performance to help benchmark future improvement targets.

Develop a maintenance plan that models habitat preservation and sustainable maintenance practices (that limit fossil fuel use, use compost in place of chemical fertilizers, focus on invasives removal, etc.) as a target standard for the park.

Preserve existing and add new tree canopy with consideration for understory habitat.

Deploy green infrastructure measures for storm water management.

Program for quantifiable benefit of micro-habitats through the park.

Expand a pollinator-friendly planting program to create “pollinator corridors” throughout the park.

Utilize the latest technology standards to benchmark park systems’ energy performance.

Partner with neighboring institutions to build Freedom Park’s environmental education program with interpretive signage and live programming.

MASTER PLAN FRAMEWORK

Goals and Strategies

GOAL

SUPPORT ADJACENT NEIGHBORHOOD VITALITYF.

STRATEGIES

F.1 F.2

Support neighboring communities’ Social Health through formalizing event infrastructure and designing for communal nodes in the park.

Support neighboring communities’ Physical Health via health and wellness programming in the park.

Support neighboring communities’ Economic Health by formalizing neighborhood loops through the park that traverse commercial, cultural, and historic districts.

Continue working with Atlanta Police Department and H.O.P.E. (Homeless Outreach Prevention and Engagement) Team towards a safer park environment.

Develop programming that promotes inclusive and equitable access and broadens user participation in park amenities.

MASTER PLAN FRAMEWORK

Goals and Strategies

INCREASE ECONOMIC VIABILITY OF THE PARKG. STRATEGIES GOAL

G.1 G.2 G.3

Create a local business membership program to promote “Freedom Park District” tourism with digital navigation and advertisement of local commercial destinations.

Develop partnerships with aligned governmental, non-profit, and private organizations for the development of park improvements and on-going maintenance.

Increase visibility of the park and build implementation momentum via “early win” project prioritization.

Align implementation plan with the City’s (and others) ongoing project initiatives.

Bolster fundraising capacity of FPC via merchandise promotion, donor recognition, fundraising event opportunities, and fundraising-focused staffing of the Board.

Augment the park with ambitious “reality-changing” programmatic offerings.

Increase the park’s brand recognition by maintaining consistent communication collateral, and expanding brand standards to include new signage and wayfinding program.

The purpose of the master plan is to develop a cohesive vision for the park’s next stage of development. Planning layers listed below come through in the plan recommendations as an integrated project list later on in the document. While each system is briefly addressed here at a framework level, it is a recommendation of this master plan to develop in-depth comprehensive further studies that elaborate on these topics.

MASTER PLAN SYSTEMS for Tactical Project Deployment Boundary

MOBILITY

Mobility Planning Principles A.4 B.3

MOBILITY AS A DRIVER FOR MASTER PLAN GOALS AND FOUNDATION FOR OTHER DESIGN SYSTEMS

Current park mobility is dominated by an existing road network that spatially defines much of the park’s open space and provides important local connectivity. Direct highway connections at the park’s western precinct establishes a clear gateway threshold between Downtown and the intersection at Boulevard. From this point, John Lewis Freedom Parkway extends to the park’s eastern reach, splintering at the Carter Presidential Center towards North and East, terminating at Ponce De Leon and Moreland. The presence of this roadway introduces numerous pedestrian/ vehicular conflict points, while also dividing the park’s acreage and limiting access to critical destinations, like the Carter Presidential Center. Trail systems in the park are generally well-developed, with multi-use trails extending throughout each of the park’s four ‘wings’. However, these trail networks do not fully account for the relative speed differential of various park users. Pedestrians, dog walkers, skaters, runners, and cyclists each utilize the same trail network, at times creating unsafe relationships and conflicts.

Transit opportunities are present, with bus stops located at or near key intersections and MARTA’s Inman Park Station providing rail connectivity at the southern tip of the park. Trail connectivity to these critical transfer points, however, suffers from unsafe access conditions relating to vehicular conflicts, insufficient lighting, or inadequate sight lines. Bike share stations can be found at the Inman Park Station and key points of the park’s west wing, but are not available in the immediate adjacency to the north or east portions of Freedom Park. Linkages to regional trail networks can be found at the park’s interface with the Beltline, as well as a connection to the Stone Mountain Trail (of which Freedom Park’s trail system is a segment), to the east. These trail connections, as significant as they are, are compromised by limited gateway definition and signage.

The mobility systems within Freedom Park lay the foundation for many of the goals outlined within the master plan. Beyond transportation infrastructure, these systems help address issues related to public health, public safety, legibility, and park programming. The inter-relation of trail, transit systems, and road networks establishes opportunities for not only experiencing the park, but also to help connect neighborhoods, address issues of equity, and provide links to regional mobility networks. Likewise, the deployment and execution of improvements within these systems, in conjunction with considerations for branding, landscape, and art, help to establish the park’s character and identity.

EXISTING MOBILITY CONDITIONS SELECT PHOTOS

Recommendations of the master plan relative to the park’s mobility system focus on seven key design principles:

MOBILITY-RELATED STRATEGIES: SAFETY

1The most critical design system to be addressed within the park relates to ensuring public safety. Existing site issues, as noted above, should be addressed to ensure safe park usage by application of best-practice design principles relating to transportation and environmental design. Recommendations include:

a. Enhancing pedestrian and bike roadway crossings by incorporating larger paved areas for queuing, creating pedestrian ‘refuge points’ at medians and enhancing crosswalk markings for increased visibility.

b. Developing the park’s secondary path network for ‘slow speed’ use to mitigate conflicts between cyclists and pedestrians.

c. Prioritize pedestrian safety improvements at the intersection of Moreland Ave. with John Lewis Freedom Parkway.

d. Consider development of pedestrian bridge connections to the Carter Presidential Center and at the intersection of Moreland Avenue with John Lewis Freedom Parkway.

e. Improve pedestrian crossing points at existing bus stops, including potential integration of pedestrian activated (HAWK) traffic beacons.

f. Improvements to trail access and sight-lines at Inman Park MARTA station.

g. General incorporation of best-practice sight-visibility improvements for trails and intersections utilizing current AASHTO and/or NACTO standards.

h. Consider incorporating traffic calming measures along public roadways that pass-through Freedom Park to reduce both vehicular speeds and probability/severity of crashes involving automobiles, while improving pedestrian and bicycle safety. Potential traffic calming measures include:

i. Reduction of vehicular lanes at pedestrian crossing points

ii. Introduction of speed cushions, bulb-outs, speed-tables or similar devices to reduce vehicular speeds and improve pedestrian crossing points

iii. Establishing roadway buffers to protect pedestrians by planting street trees and/or incorporating on-street parking (where appropriate).

iv. Reduce posted speed limits to accommodate safe stopping distances

v. Provide visibility triangles at intersections that meet safety standards established by local agencies.

LEGIBILITY

Establish clear trail hierarchy in conjunction with a fully developed wayfinding system to promote regional trail connection and linkages between the park and adjacent neighborhoods.

Boulevard and John Lewis Freedom Pkwy Intersection

John Lewis Freedom Pkwy at Randolph St Underpass

North Ave and Candler Park Dr Crossing

MOBILITY

Mobility Planning Components

PROGRAMMING

Consider mobility systems as critical components related to park programming.

a. Gateway, trail segments and loops should be given distinct names that tie back to larger park design narratives and branding. Key ‘branded’ trail networks within the park include:

i. John Lewis Freedom Parkway

ii. The Stone Mountain Trail

iii. The Peace Loop at the Carter Presidential Center iv. Boulevard and Moreland Avenue Gateways

v. Inman Park Marta Gateway vi. Freedom Commons Loop Trail

vii. Lullwater Creek Boardwalk

CONSOLIDATE PARK MOBILITY INFRASTRUCTURE

Consider consolidation of John Lewis Freedom Parkway by shifting the west-bound, one-way leg north of the Carter Presidential Center, establishing a clear, two-way road between North Highland Avenue and Ralph McGill Boulevard.

CONNECT PARK ASSETS

Prioritize connectivity to existing park, neighborhood, and regional assets through clarifying connecting points and expanding trail infrastructure. Key connections to be addressed include:

a. Downtown Atlanta

b. Jackson Street Bridge

c. The King Center

d. Carter Presidential Center

e. The Beltline

f. Mary Lin Elementary School

g. Olmsted Linear Park

h. Connections to Little Five Points and related neighborhood commercial districts and cultural destinations.

ENCOURAGE USE OF DIVERSE MOBILITY SYSTEMS

Focus improvements relating to Trails and Transit systems to reduce dependency on automobiles and impacts of vehicular infrastructure. Mobility systems within freedom park should generally privilege pedestrians, cyclists, wheelchairs, and other forms of ‘slow moving’ traffic. Likewise, support infrastructure trail and transit systems should be developed to improve comfort, safety and facilitate usage. Example would include integration of bike racks and maintenance stations, enhanced bus shelters, shaded trails and general safety enhancements, enhanced transit connections and consideration of key access points, such as the MARTA pedestrian bridge at Dekalb. Enhanced neighborhood connections, incorporation of information signage and digital way-finding systems can likewise be integrated to clarify mobility options and clarify feasibility of mobility network for park users and nearby residents. Connectivity to the MARTA rail station should likewise be enhanced and promoted to encourage visitors to utilize public transportation as a viable mode of travel when visiting Freedom Park.

EXPAND PARK ACCESS AND USAGE OPPORTUNITIES

Equitable access to public open space is a critical consideration for any urban community. By enhancing all levels of mobility access opportunities, Freedom Park can play a more significant role in the expansion of infrastructure critical for public health and well-being. Increasing park access extends these benefits to a broader crosssection of the community while generating increased activity in the park (a critical component to general public safety within an urban setting). Key design features to expand park access include:

a. As a baseline, ensure site accessibility in compliance with local and national standards for universal access and use.

b. Prioritize accomodating wheelchair access to park amenities.

c. Develop short, legible trail loops to provide convenient access to key features within the park.

d. Consider provisions for access to public restrooms, proximity to park seating and related infrastructure to address comfort and convenience.

e. Incorporate a distributed network of drop-off locations and accessible parking facilities at key locations within the park.

f. Enhance trail connectivity to adjacent neighborhoods and provide legible, safe gateway points.

MOBILITY

Mobility Improvement Visualizations

ILLUSTRATIONS OF SELECT MOBILITY IMPROVEMENTS

Pedestrian/Bike bridge to Carter Presidential Center in Poncey-Highland neighborhood

Pedestrian crossing Improvements at Moreland Avenue

Secondary paths branching off the main park trail

Pedestrian crossing improvements and pedestrian/bike bridge at Moreland Avenue

Trail conversion of the decommissioned SR-42 Connector south of Carter Presidential Center

Pedestrian plaza and crossing improvements near Mary Lin Elementary at Candler Park Drive and North Avenue

MOBILITY IMPROVEMENT MAP

LEGEND

DEFINING GATEWAYS AND EDGES

THE SITES AND STRUCTURES HIGHLIGHTED IN THE DIAGRAM HIGHLIGHT KEY GATEWAYS, INTERSECTIONS, AND EDGES TO BE ENHANCED AND DEFINED.

Removed Existing Trail Existing Pedestrian Bridge NORTH

Existing Trail Proposed Trail

Proposed Pedestrian Plaza

Proposed Crossing Enhancements

Proposed Pedestrian Bridge Proposed Boardwalk

Proposed Stairs/Wheelchair Access Ramps

Proposed Conversion from Road to Trail

Proposed Road Widening Park Boundary

SPECIAL CONSIDERATION MOBILITY PROJECTS Park

BOULEVARD JOHN LEWIS

JOHN LEWIS FREEDOM AT

FREEDOM PKWY AT BOULEVARD

BOULEVARD GATEWAY

The development of the Boulevard Gateway is part of a series of comprehensive urban design projects that form the larger “Freedom Park West” project. The goal of this “Signature Project” is to develop a western gateway to Freedom Park with links to key neighborhood and civic assets. The project seeks to strengthen connections from Freedom Park to the Jackson Street Bridge, Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Park, the Freedom Barkway Dog Park and adjacent mixed-use and residential developments. Central to this effort is the exploration of potential improvements to the intersection at Boulevard Avenue and John Lewis Freedom Parkway. Pedestrians and cyclists trying to cross this intersection currently must navigate crossing eight lanes of traffic with minimal refuge points or queuing space. Importantly, two free-right turn lanes onto and from Boulevard Avenue create dangerous conditions for anyone utilizing these crossing points.

The proposed design seeks to address these unsafe conditions while also developing an urban gateway to encourage connectivity and frame the western entry to Freedom Park. Proposals include the removal of free vehicular turn movements, increasing the width and legibility of crosswalks, creating generous plaza spaces at each corner of the intersection and providing median refuge points for pedestrians and cyclists. In conjunction with these efforts beautification and park branding can be incorporated through the development of signature architectural gateway elements, tree and groundcover plantings and enhanced lighting. Likewise, trail connections between Freedom Park West and downtown can be further strengthened to increase legibility and connect the park with the urban core of the city.

Coordination and Next Steps Considerations

Both the Atlanta and Georgia Departments of Transportation are the core partners in helping realize the vision for a more pedestrian and bike-friendly intersection at Boulevard Ave. Initial design feasibility for the intersection improvements will require coordination with GDOT and ATL DOT, data analysis that may include crash data and existing traffic volumes, as well as potential impacts based on proposed design modifications. Design modifications should take into account projected increases to pedestrian and bicycle usage in conjunction with future inner city population growth, park enhancements, and alternative transportation connectivity needs. Coordination of proposed planting and associated maintenance will likewise be required in collaboration with partner agencies and organizations.

“PEACE LOOP” ROAD DECOMMISSIONING

The proposed “Peace Loop” is a continuous one-mile-long hike and bike trail that extends around the perimeter of the Carter Presidential Center at the heart of Freedom Park. The goal of this proposal is to establish a legible circulation loop that will provide safe, visible, and convenient facilities for health and wellness, as well as strengthen connectivity from neighborhoods and park trails to the Carter Presidential Center. This circuit would be branded as a destination for park users with defined facilities for both slow (walking) and fast (running, biking) movement along the loop, and additional connections to the Beltline would expand the potential for regional recreational open space network. The loop trail would also serve as a legible organizing device for wayfinding within the park, serving to connect programming and trails associated with each of the park’s four “wings”. Benefits to the Carter Presidential Center would be provided through increased foot traffic to and within the facility, thereby raising the profile of the Center and broadening public interest in its offerings.

In order to facilitate the establishment of the “Peace Loop” trail system, short-term improvements to pedestrian and vehicular conflict points, such as HAWK signals, wider striped and textural crossing should be implemented at multiple identified locations along the loop. Long-term, de-commissioning of SR 42 Connector segment south of the Carter Presidential Center site will open up significant acreage of park space along the west and south side of the proposed loop, significantly reducing vehicular impacts within the park, increasing connectivity to the Beltline, and offering opportunities for new, safe gateway points into the Carter Presidential Center. The plan envisions re-routing current, single lane east-bound traffic to the north, paired with the existing, single-lane west-bound traffic lane. This would serve to reduce traffic speeds within the park, eliminate un-safe connections to bus facilities and reduce conflict points between cars and pedestrians. The newly reconfigured two-way street offer a clear east-west axial connection among key park gateways at Ralph McGill, North Highland, and Moreland, while being able to fit within the existing road right-of-way.

Benefiting from the existing topography in this location, a new pedestrian bridge across would provide direct connectivity between the Carter Presidential Center’s northern entry and the “Peace Loop” trails system. Pedestrian and vehicular entry points into the Carter Presidential Center would be made more legible on the north and east sides, with emergency and service connection potentially being provided through links to North Highland Avenue on the south side.

Potentially, the decommissioned segments of the Freedom Parkway road system, to the west and south, would be decoupled from the existing road network and redeveloped as primary segments of the “Peace Loop” trail. This approach would significantly minimize costs associated with roadway demolition, grading, new trail construction, drainage and utility routing. Paired with this effort, significant expansion of connection points to the Beltline at its intersection with Freedom Parkway can be provided at its northeast, northwest and southwest corners. Proposed “Handshake Plazas” would formalize the connection of these two iconic park systems, greatly expanding potential offerings to park users, while also expanding connections to adjacent neighborhoods and business districts.

Coordination and Next Steps Considerations

As the first step towards understanding the feasibility of this proposal, traffic modeling projections should be studied in coordination with GDOT and ATL DOT to clarify its impact. Coordinated design and planning will also need to be undertaken with the Carter Presidential Center to ensure that internal circulation, service and emergency access are maintained within its grounds. Collaboration between the Carter Presidential Center, Freedom Park Conservancy, and local governmental transportation agencies will be required to clarify the needs and goals for the Center to ensure compatibility with proposed circulation adjustments. Outreach and coordination with Atlanta Beltline, as well as local community organizations and representatives should continue to ensure that proposed improvements reflect community interests and contextual considerations.

Proposed Road Decommissioning

Proposed Road Widening

MORELAND AVENUE PEDESTRIAN CROSSING AND BRIDGE

The Moreland Avenue intersection on the dividing line between Fulton and Dekalb counties is the park’s most visible and utilized gateway point, and a game-changing component in the larger comprehensive mobility strategy for Freedom Park. The envisioned future program and branding initiatives will increase usage at this crossing point with “Freedom Commons”, eastern art and nature destinations, and the Stone Mountain Trail gaining in legibility over time. The node serves bicycle commuters between Downtown and Emory University, as well as users wishing to navigate to nearby Little Five Points to the south. Most significantly, however, the intersection is on the primary route to Mary Lin Elementary School to the east, and Howard Middle School to the West, used by school-age children and their parents. With projected population increases within the greater Atlanta area over the coming decades, improvements to crossing conditions along this route will be critical to ensure the safety of daily park users, park visitors, and bicycle/pedestrian (school and work-related) commutes.

Design Considerations

Improvements to the intersection consider utilizing a combination of urban design tools. Recommendations include the development of a larger plaza space to the east, as well as larger pedestrian zones at both the northwest and southwest corners. Improvements to lighting, signalization, crosswalk legibility, and median refuge points should increase visibility and add queuing space for pedestrians and cyclists.

Paired with these improvements, the proposed pedestrian bridge crossing Moreland at the south side of the intersection will offer the most significant benefit to public safety by supporting seamless pedestrian and bike usage within the park. The proposed structure would take advantage of the elevated park topography to the east and generous right-of-way at the southwest corner of the intersection to provide continuous, ADA-accessible link to the park’s primary circulation route. At its western end, a linear berm would be

created to allow the existing trail to split before arriving at the intersection. The bridge would then span over the roadway landing on the hill to the east. Columns placed adjacent to the intersection would reduce the longest span of the bridge to fall within a range that would offer a variety of options for structural design. The design goal for the bridge would be to create an architecturally sensitive structure with emphasis on reducing its profile and utilizing material and color palettes that would contribute to the character of the neighborhood. Shrub and tree plantings along the berms and within the plazas flanking the bridge would further buffer views to the structure and lessen its visual impact. Bridge lighting would be integrated into structure’s internal rails to avoid unnecessary light spillage. Bridge width would be minimized while maintaining adequate space for multi-use trail usage. Railing heights would follow AASHTO’s requirements for bicycle facilities as well as GDOT’s standards for conditions over roadways. The design of railings would aim to reduce the visual mass of the structure. Abutments and column placement would be sensitive to pedestrian and vehicular visibility below the structure. Existing power lines running along the east side of Moreland Avenue would likely be placed underground for the length of the intersection and associated plaza space. This required improvement for the bridge would also be consistent with aesthetic improvements to the park gateway plaza, as well as visibility to potential city art installations within the park.

Coordination and Next Steps Considerations

Design studies associated with the proposals noted above will include coordination with GDOT and ATL DOT, and include traffic modeling of existing and projected volumes, taking into account future increases in pedestrian and bicycle traffic. Engineering feasibility and costs analysis for relocation of overhead utilities will also require preliminary study. Pedestrian bridge design will require close coordination with GDOT and community representatives to ensure a contextually sensitive aesthetic that meets agency’s current engineering requirements. It is important to note, that in order to ensure community’s safer movement through the park, improvements to the at-grade crossing at Moreland intersection should be implemented as the first priority, irrespective of the potential pedestrian/bike bridge connection in the future.

PROGRAM Park Activities Planning STRATEGIES:

Our need for open spaces is defined by their spatial characteristics, access to nature, but also by the shared community experiences within them. Leisure, recreation, play, cultural events are the reason we enjoy and keep coming back to urban parks. The mix of activity offerings at Freedom Park is limited by design: at its founding, the lease agreement between GDOT and the City of Atlanta notes that Freedom Parks is dedicated “for use as a roadside park”. It further states that the “lessee shall use the premises solely for the purpose of picnicking, hiking, biking, nature, study, viewing and enjoying historical or scenic sites and such other purposes as are consistent with the use of the premises as a roadside park, and shall allow the public use of the park, it being the intention of the parties that the premises shall be used for a “recreational purpose” as defined in O.C.G.A. § 51-3-21 (4).” O.C.G.A. § 51-3-21 (4) states: ““Recreational purpose” includes, but is not limited to, any of the following or any combination thereof: hunting, fishing, swimming, boating, camping, picnicking, hiking, pleasure driving, nature study, water skiing, winter sports, and viewing or enjoying historical, archaeological, scenic, or scientific sites.”Additionally, it states that the “lessee shall not construct or allow to be constructed any buildings or parts of buildings, parking decks or parts of parking decks, or similar facilities”.

As the park developed, the imposed legal limitations maintained the primary use to be walking, jogging, and biking along recreational trails. A couple of playgrounds have been installed in Poncey-Highland and Inman Park neighborhoods. In addition to that, a sizable “Barkway Dog Park” in the Old Fourth Ward has become a regional social hub for the dog owners and is currently being renovated. Events that are associated with Freedom Park do not technically occur on Freedom Park land- the weekly farmers market happens at the Carter Presidential Center parking lot, and Inman Park Spring Festival uses the roadbed surrounding Poplar Circle in Inman Park neighborhood.

Throughout the community engagement process, questions about current park activity offerings were raised, and in general, revealed an even split among those who would like the passive nature and limited programs of the park to be maintained and those community members who would like to see programmatic options expanded. Out of the activities that people wanted to see added most, the ones associated with culture, nature and leisure were preferred over active recreation and play. At the same time, a need for more recreation and play options for multiple age groups in the park was expressed. For example, strong community advocacy for a beginner-level outdoor roller skating rink has emerged and grew momentum through the engagement process. Also, a strong desire for communal events was expressed by online survey participants and during public meetings.

Indicative of the evolving community needs, the increasing demand for places of gathering, cultural nourishment, new opportunities for physical activities in support of healthy lifestyles, and simply more enjoyable variety of places within the park is reflected in the list of programmatic recommendations of the master plan.

PROGRAMMATIC FRAMEWORK COMPONENTS

The new programmatic framework’s philosophy is founded on wanting to preserve what is already great about the park—access to nature via ample trail connectivity, cultural experiences in and around the park, and civic engagement behavior that the park has been engendering since its founding.

As an elaboration of such strong programmatic themes, the Civic component becomes an underlying driver for how spaces are defined to accommodate civically-minded actions of Education, Procession, and Assembly. Art lens, beyond public art itself, becomes a qualifier for how every “activity infrastructure” is conceived, and Nature offerings are curated along environmentally-defined destination trail segments.

In addition to this core programmatic framework, a visitor/touristic orientation program is proposed to put a spotlight on special features of the park, that will raise its profile for regional, national, and international audiences. These are sites with stunning views of the downtown skyline, places with embedded interpretive elements, such as “Storytelling Plazas” and “History Wall”at the Park Visitor Center, and “Cultural Trail” tours that make a legible connection between the two Noble Peace Prize laureates’ MLK Jr. and Jimmy Carter homes, and extend further north to the plaza commemorating the late Congressman John Lewis’s legacy.

Unique to Freedom Park, “Neighborhood Loops” program is more of a navigational tool for directing park’s foot traffic towards neighborhood commercial and cultural destinations, and vice versa. It requires minimal infrastructure, and by bringing more visitors to the park while supporting local businesses and institutions, has a galvanizing impact on the surrounding neighborhoods.

EXISTING PROGRAM SELECT PHOTOS

PARK ACTIVITIES MAP

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Health Loop

Exercise Loop

“Muscle Beach” Station

Training Stop

Play Hill Circuit

TOURISTIC ORIENTATION

1

Game Lawn

RECREATION & LEISURE

Picnic Grove

Toy Boat Launch

Duck Feeding Lawn Universal Access Play

Treehouse Village Play Shade Pavilion

Art Seating

Food Truck Row

ENVIRONMENT & EDUCATION

LEGEND NORTH

Lullwater Creek Discovery Path Outdoor Classroom

Arboreal Collection Walk

Audubon Trail

Wetland Garden Trail

Butterfly Trail Moon Trail Ravine Trail

Habitat Garden “Animal Architecture” Habitat Art

COMMUNITY GATHERING

1 6 7

King Square Handshake Plaza

John Lewis Lake & Plaza Celebration Lawn Copenhill Terrace

Skyline Vista Overlook

Visitor Kiosk at MARTA Station

Visitor Kiosk at Jackson St.

“Embedded History” Art Wall

Storytelling Plazas

Cultural/Civic Trail Mini-Library Outpost

Little Five Points Loop Garden Loop 1 4 3 2 5 NEIGHBORHOOD LOOPS Park Boundary

King Loop Fourth Ward Loop

Beltline Loop

DEFINING GATEWAYS AND EDGES

THE SITES AND STRUCTURES HIGHLIGHTED IN THE DIAGRAM HIGHLIGHT KEY GATEWAYS, INTERSECTIONS, AND EDGES TO BE ENHANCED AND DEFINED.

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM Activism

The park’s civic engagement DNA inspires the master plan’s three spatial and programmatic approaches to what becomes “A Transect of Civic Engagement” through spaces of Education, Procession, and Assembly. Opportunities for these civic acts drive the hierarchy of design thinking throughout the plan.

EDUCATION PROCESSION ASSEMBLY

Enriches individual experience of the park through exposure to multiple narratives in an outdoor classroom environment.

Frames movement as a civic act either in celebration or protest, as the means of connecting to your fellow citizens.

Addresses how to engender a spontaneous gathering where conflicts get resolved at a community scale.

“Flowering Forest” – a processional “Tree Tribute” to Civil Rights Leader John Lewis along John Lewis Freedom Parkway

“Mills Garden Plaza” outdoor classroom near Howard Middle School in Old Fourth Ward neighborhood

“Freedom Commons” Assembly Lawn in Candler Park neighborhood

OUTDOOR CLASSROOM TYPOLOGIES

STREET PROCESSION TYPOLOGIES

FORMALIZING SPONTANEOUS CIVIC SPACES OF ASSEMBLY

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM MAP

LEGEND

DEFINING GATEWAYS AND EDGES

THE SITES AND STRUCTURES HIGHLIGHTED IN THE DIAGRAM HIGHLIGHT KEY GATEWAYS, INTERSECTIONS, AND EDGES TO BE ENHANCED AND DEFINED.

John Lewis Freedom Parkway Processional Corridor

Civic Walk Corridors

Educational Program Civic Assembly Program Park Boundary

PUBLIC SAFETY

Designing for Safety

Public safety is the most important consideration for the planning, design and stewardship of any public landscape. While traditional metrics for level of safety can be derived from lighting levels, visibility, and reduction of vehicular conflict points, other factors are equally important in establishing a holistic design and operational response. Critical considerations include levels of activity, maintenance practices, and coordination with local law enforcement and emergency response agencies.

Freedom Park’s current site conditions, while offering extensive access to trails and natural settings, are hindered by inadequate safety infrastructure to meet the demands of both current and expected future use. Issues relating to pedestrian roadway crossings, sight visibility, and overall park legibility all contribute to environmental conditions that would benefit from elevated standards for safe public access throughout the park.

PUBLIC SAFETY-RELATED EXISTING CONDITIONS SELECT PHOTOS

PUBLIC SAFETY-RELATED STRATEGIES:

D.1 D.2 F.4 F.5

Proposed enhancements and design considerations to address improvements to park safety include:

1. Trail System Design:

Heavily utilized, multi-use trail networks, such as those that are developed within Freedom Park, offer access op portunities for a broad range of park users. The popularity of these trail systems, however, present numerous conflicts related to the varied speed of these user groups. Slower moving traffic, such as pedestrians, dog-walkers or young cyclists, are often in conflict with runners, fast-moving cyclists , skateboarders and other ‘wheeled’ traffic. Development of a robust, secondary pedestrian-only path network will reduce congestion along trails and reduce speed-differentials along primary multi-use trails. Likewise, incorporation of pavement markings and signage to communicate standards for public use of trails can elevate understanding of trail-use protocols and improve safety conditions. In locations where secondary paths are not feasible, expanding the width of existing multi-use trails should be considered at key congestion points. Additionally, placement of site furnishings along multi-use trails should be set back far enough from the path of travel to reduce people stopping or otherwise obstructing the path of travel. Similarly, key crossing points and/or trail intersections should incorporate adequate space for queuing or otherwise stopping without overly-crowing users at busy traffic points. Consider topography and steep grade conditions relative to expected user speed and adjacent site conditions along trails by providing adequate turning radii and barriers where needed.

2. Visibility:

Level of visibility within open space systems are a critical design consideration to ensure safe park usage. Consid erations include both lines of site, legibility of surroundings and general levels of activity to promote ‘eyes on the park’. Key design considerations pertaining to public safety include:

a. Ensure adequate site lines along trails at critical trail connections, around corners and at intersections with traffic. Standards should meet current ASHTO or equivalent local design standards. Plant ing maintenance should be prioritized within these locations to maintain critical lines of site.

b. Trail hierarchy, wayfinding and overall park legibility should be considered to reduce the need for stopping particularly at busy intersection points within the park.

c. Elevated levels of activity through broadening user participation and access within the park will increase visibility for park users and reduce danger associated with unmonitored locations.

d. Improve visibility at critical connections to transit facilities, including bus facilities along John Lewis Freedom Parkway and MARTA’s Inman Park Station.

3. Lighting:

Park lighting systems provide basic levels of safety through enhanced visibility and extended park usage during early morning or evening hours when park user volumes are generally lower. The design of these systems should be deployed with careful consideration to not only lighting levels but standards of design that enhance comfort and clarify park use zones. Lighting design standards for Freedom Park should consider:

a. Prioritization of lighting along primary, multi-use trails and park gateway points.

b. Standards for light levels that meet or exceed current IES standards for park design. Lighting levels for primary trails and pedestrian plazas should be established at a minimum of 1 footcandle; gateways and related high-traffic locations should provide a minimum of 5 footcandles of illumina tion. Lighting should be designed to provide adequate light balance, minimizing glare and hot-spots where possible.

c. The illumination of trails ‘invites’ users after dark and should be carefully designed to ensure a clear path of

4. Roadways Crossings and Traffic Calming

Improvements to roadway crossings and general traffic calming measures should be incorporated into design im provements as outlined in the master plan Mobility Safety enhancements.

5. Coordination with Atlanta Police Department

Coordination with the Atlanta Police Department should be continued throughout each step of design to ensure the provision of adequate facilities for park patrols and law enforcement. Preliminary master plan-level coordination with the APD noted that locations for surveillance cameras at key locations will need to be considered for the park. Infrastructure required for cameras should be included within each subsequent implementation project and coordi nated with APD. Access requirements for patrols should be coordinated as needed, including facilities for vehicular, bicycle, and foot patrols. Coordination of issues related to homeless encampments and vagrancy should likewise be coordinated with APD and HOPE, with recommendations to design enhancements incorporated into future proj ects and maintenance practices.

Inman Park PlaygroundPark Gateway at MARTA Station

Barrier at Mid-Block along North Ave

SAFETY LIGHTING ZONES MAP

LEGEND

Primary Path Lighting Regional Gateway Lighting Neighborhood Gateway Lighting Local Gateway Lighting Intersection Lighting Pedestrian Crossing Lighting Park Boundary

PARK LANDSCAPES

Planting Typologies

PLANTING- RELATED STRATEGIES:

E.5 E.6

The landscape for Freedom Park forms the backbone of the green infrastructure of the surrounding neighborhoods. This system is part of a much larger urban landscape that binds the greater Atlanta region, providing both a vital ecological resource as well as a primary component to the character of the city. The existing landscape character within the park is generally reflective of the larger regional urban landscape. Large specimen trees, mostly planted after the formation of the park, dominate the landscape, and should be protected as critical assets. Understory planting and forested segments of the park are sparse, with mowed turf being the predominant groundcover for the majority of landscapes.

The park is set within the central northern portion of the Southern Outer Piedmont ecoregion. This landscape is characterized by the predominance of loblolly-short leaf pine in conjunction with oak and hickory found elsewhere in the Piedmont region. The plant communities found within this ecoregion serve as the foundation for ecological enhancements for the park as defined by specific site conditions.

The design goals for Freedom Park’s landscape development focus on protecting existing specimen trees and natural habitat zones, while seeking opportunities to enhance native ecologies within the park. The design of the park should seek to amplify the legibility of these natural landscapes to establish clear character zones. These character zones correspond to their performative role within the park. Performative benefits of these natural landscapes should be quantified and understood as the basis for their continued stewardship. Likewise, seasonal variation should be celebrated and utilized as a key design tool for thematic landscape design and developed into specific park programs to encourage year-round use of the park. Analysis and understanding of soil types and their role in proper landscape management and development is critical to long-term success of Freedom Park. When planting trees within urban conditions, care should be taken to accommodate tree requirements for nutrients, oxygen and access to water. Trees planted in densely developed hardscape and/or roadway conditions may require supplemental soil amendments and/or utilization of structural soils or similar design systems to manage the needs of both trees and the requirements of hardscape.

ECOLOGICAL ENHANCEMENT MAP

LEGEND

DEFINING GATEWAYS AND EDGES

THE SITES AND STRUCTURES HIGHLIGHTED IN THE DIAGRAM HIGHLIGHT KEY GATEWAYS, INTERSECTIONS, AND EDGES TO BE ENHANCED AND DEFINED.

Lowland Forest /Wetland Tree

Mowed Turf

Upland Forest Tree Ornamental Flowering Tree

Lowland Forest/Wetland Meadow Zone Wildflower Meadow Zone Buffer Forest Zone Garden Zone

Section B-B

Park Boundary

PARK LANDSCAPES

Planting Typologies

The landscape typologies for the park are divided into four general categories and twelve specific character types:

1FOREST ZONES

Forest zones are generally characterized as natural landscapes with dense canopy tree coverage, native understory and groundcover plantings. These landscapes are intended over time to become a mixed native understory environment with wildflowers along the sunny edges, shade tolerant grasses and native understory in deeper shade, and open leaf litter areas in deep shade. Understory may become tall and visually dense. These landscapes typically occupy areas along the edges of the park or within specific stands, predominately found in the park’s eastern reach.

a. Upland Forest

Consist of predominantly hardwood tree species in locations where soils do not become saturated for extended periods of time.

b. Lowland Forest

Consist of predominantly hardwood tree species in locations where stormwater drainage accumulates in low-lying areas, sometimes saturating soils for extended periods of time. These woodlands typically consist of a mixture of oak, hickory and pine, but can also contain bald cypress, water tupelo and other bottomland species.

c. Buffer Forest

Buffer Forests occupy edge conditions within the park. These landscapes are generally defined by their relationship to both public and private adjacent uses. Overstory, middle-story and understory relationships correspond to visibility requirements and privacy of adjacent property owners, while maintaining a cohesive natural landscape character, habitat, and foraging value.

Trumpet

PARK LANDSCAPES

Planting Typologies

The landscape typologies for the park are divided into four general categories and twelve specific character types:

2WOODLAND ZONES

Woodland zones consist of landscapes within the park that incorporate managed forests and/or shrub and groundcover landscape in conjunction with overstory and ornamental tree plantings. These landscape are predominantly found within high visibility areas and along edges of Native Woodlands where trails bring people in close proximity to forested areas. In these locations understory trees can be planted where large existing trees provide shade. Planting of low groundcovers and shrubs should generally not exceed l 36”-42” in height.

a. Cultured Woodlands

Consist of Upland Forests with a man aged middle and understory to maintain visibility, generally for safety consider ations.

b. Thematic Woodlands

Consist of native, forested landscapes designed around thematic plantings tied to park narratives and/or related design objectives. These landscapes are typ ified by the predominance of primary tree species utilized to amplify desired design characteristics at key, iconic landscape zones within the park.

White

Eastern

Tulip

Downy

Scarlet

Flowering

Eastern

Southern Magnolia

Black

Carolina Silverbell

American

Longleaf

PARK LANDSCAPES

Planting Typologies

The landscape typologies for the park are divided into four general categories and twelve specific character types:

GRASSLAND ZONES

Grassland zones are generally characterized as open landscapes with specimen trees and dominant turf and/or native meadow landscapes.

a. Mowed Turf

Consist of mowed turf as the predominant ground plane material in conjunc tion with existing and/or planted specimen trees. These landscapes are limited in their ecological value and require high levels of maintenance. As such, utilization of these landscapes should be limited to areas intended for access and passive use, such as picnic zones and active use lawn areas.

b. Wildflower Meadow

Consist of native meadow grass and wildflower plant communities utilized as both high-value ecological landscapes and for aesthetic design purposes. .

c. Wetland

Consist of native aquatic and riparian plant communities associated with low-ly ing areas and edges of water bodies.

PARK LANDSCAPES

Planting Typologies

GARDEN ZONES

Garden zones are generally reserved for high-visibility areas that correspond with thematic sites within the park, as well as areas contributing to gateways or similar branded landscapes. While generally promoting native plantings, these areas may also include other, adapted ornamental plantings as required to achieve intended design results.

a. Display Garden

Consist of perennials, annuals and ornamental shrubs, groundcovers and trees. These landscapes utilize the highest levels of maintenance and should be reserved for key sites within the park.

b. Display Wetland Garden

Ornamental aquatic and riparian plantings associated with controlled, high-vis ibility garden zones near boardwalks or related programmatic sites.

c. Urban Garden

Consist of plantings associated with hard scape design plazas, playgrounds and related site-specific park settings. These landscapes utilize robust plantings that can withstand demanding urban condi tions within high-use zones of the park.

d. Garden Art Setting

Special landscapes designed and main tained as part of specific art installations within the park. Composition of these landscapes are intended to help frame or otherwise provide a setting for sculptures and related art pieces.

SUSTAINABILITY

Sustainability Components RELATED STRATEGIES:

The ongoing stewardship of Freedom Park is guided by the goals surrounding improvements to both the experiential and performative role of its landscape. Central to those goals is the incorporation of sustainable strategies for both maintenance and ongoing development of the park. Sustainable practices applied to open space plays a central role with respect to building resilience into urban communities. Given the impact and visibility these lands have within the community, opportunities for ecological enhancements, stormwater mitigation, resource management, and “best practice” maintenance protocols can have benefits that extend beyond the boundaries of the park. While the outward appearance of the existing park projects a positive contribution to sustainable practices, there are a number of ways the park can significantly improve its contribution on this front, to become a model of “best practice” thinking for urban landscapes.

Proposed sustainable design practices and considerations to be incorporated into the management and development of Freedom Park include:

1. Ecology

Healthy, diverse native landscapes play a critical role in maintaining robust urban ecological systems. Interconnected natural lands provide important habitat for vertebrate and invertebrate species, as well as plant communities vital to healthy urban communities. Future enhancements to Freedom Park should work to preserve, protect and enhance existing natural landscapes within the park and maintain their connectivity to off-site natural sites. Likewise, planting and landscape management should focus on the development of continuous urban canopy throughout the park, as well as pollinator corridors critical to healthy urban landscapes. Planting of new canopy trees should be undertaken to replace canopy loss due to attrition caused by age or climatic factors. Management of riparian landscapes and newly developed water features should focus on their role as a habitat resource for aquatic and other species.

2. Storm Water Management

Low-lying lands offer important collection points for storm water that can be utilized for flood mitigation and wa ter quality improvements. Opportunistic design interventions should be incorporated into the development and management of natural lands to affect a net-positive benefit for the park for the mitigation of urban run-off within the site. Likewise, best-practice design tools should be utilized based on the principles of Low Impact Development to minimize impacts to surrounding communities.

3. Sustainable Construction Materials

Utilization of locally sourced construction materials significantly reduces the carbon footprint and related environ mental impacts associated with new development within the park. Likewise, the park should prioritize utilization of sustainably sourced and/or recycled materials.

4. Site Lighting

The impacts of site lighting, while important to public safety and branding, can be detrimental to site environmental conditions if not managed correctly. Park lighting should prioritize the utilization of low-energy fixtures with con trolled optics to prevent unwanted light-trespass on neighboring homes, and sensitive ecological systems. Like wise, all fixtures should adhere to Dark Skies requirements.

5. Resource Conservation

Parks can utilize a great deal of energy and resources if note managed or designed with consideration to life-cycle impacts. Freedom Park should incorporate infrastructure and programs designed around resource conservation

through best-practice design and technology aimed at reductions in energy and water usage. Lighting should incorporate smart controls for dimming to reduced energy usage after hours within certain location in the park. Exploration of solar or related energy production technology should likewise be considered where appropriate. Water caption infrastructure and basins can be utilized to offset water demand for irrigation. Recycling, composting and related re-use programs should be incorporated and highlighted throughout the park.

6. Promote alternative mobility opportunities

The park benefits from reduced vehicular travel both to and through its boundaries. Highlighting diverse mobility opportunities within the park can change park users patterns of travel by expanding sustainable transportation in frastructure. Integration of bike share and related infrastructure leverages the parks robust trail network and serves to better link nearby business districts. Likewise, promotion of linkages between the Beltline and MARTA’s Inman Park Station by way of the Freedom Park trail network interconnects the park with regional transportation networks. Incorporation of charging stations within or adjacent to the boundaries of the park also incentivizes use of clean sustainable practices and public education. Interpretive signage should be incorporating into the park to highlight ecological systems, low impact development design elements, native plant communities and related sustainable practices.

8. Well-Being

The natural resources of Freedom park are its signature- they create a place of respit and a sense of mental and physical well-being for Atlantans and visitors alike. Maintenance and improvement of the park’s landscapes, understory and overstory canopy, and topographic features will be essential in supporting a de-stressing natural environment in the middle of the clty through good air quality, access to exercise, alleviation of sound and light pollution.

9. Maintenance

Maintenance programs for the park play a huge role in determining the parks’ net carbon footprint and impact to sensitive ecological systems. Planting and landscape management programs should prioritize reductions in of mowed turf to limit need and use of greenhouse gas emitting maintenance vehicles. Plant management programs should utilize full organic fertilization practices to minimize harmful chemical runoff and leaching into groundwater resources.

10. Partnerships

Formalize partnerships with aligned public, private and non-profit entities for the continued sustainable stewardship of the park. Consider volunteer programs to offset maintenance and strengthen relationships with organizations, citizens and the park.

11. Sustainability Rating systems

Consider utilization of sustainability rating systems and certification as a tool to guide future development, manage ment and complement branding initiatives for the park.

• Sustainable Sites Initiative (https://www.sustainablesites.org)

• USGBC Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)

SUSTAINABILITY MAP

LEGEND

DEFINING GATEWAYS AND EDGES SITES AND STRUCTURES HIGHLIGHTED IN THE DIAGRAM HIGHLIGHT KEY GATEWAYS, INTERSECTIONS, AND EDGES TO BE ENHANCED AND DEFINED.

BRANDING AND Components RELATED

A clear and coherent image is essential to a successful positioning of an urban park, as it is easier to grow and improve what is possible to comprehend. The image or brand of a park consists of Memorability—distinct experiences within specific physical scenography, and Brand Identity—manifestations of the park’s story in graphic and physical object design. Both strong memorability and brand identity promote patronage and advocacy within the community through increased visitorship and philanthropic support. Wayfinding is a communication design system that supports Brand identity and Memorability by clarifying navigation through the park’s geography through orchestration of signage and landmark hierarchies.

All three components at Freedom Park are currently under-developed, even some residents that live in the vicinity of the park have a hard time understanding it as a place, and where it clearly begins and ends. It goes back to the history of the fight along with the highway-driven configuration of the land that resulted in a somewhat ambiguous space with many weak edges and little in the way of programming to activate the park. This legacy, along with the original 1994 plan that aspired to create an ‘Olmstedian’ environment, established a number of fundamental issues for the park’s identity. The subtlety of it original stone wall signage and tree plantings that grew steadily over a couple of decades matured the look of the park into a pleasant but somewhat innocuous place, to the point that one hardly notices they are passing though it at times. There are multiple overlapping open space brands in the area, as well, that further dilute the identity of Freedom Park by serving as major nodes and destinations, while Freedom Park space becomes a transitional linkage on the way. The Beltline, Carter Presidential Center, Candler Park, and Olmsted Linear Parks form some of those nodes.

Master plan recommendations aim at positioning Freedom Park as an even stronger linkage within this incredible network of destination open spaces while developing its own distinct image that relies on improved memorability, brand identity, and wayfinding.

BUILDING A STRONG BRAND

A strong park brand has a series of well-developed branding components: a story about its unique value proposition, symbology and graphic brand guidelines consistent with that story, and the physical manifestations of its unique promise through ‘placemaking’ interventions. Lastly, a simple to follow online platform/app, social media presence, and e-mail communication in the form of announcements, event advertising, and fundraising campaign drives provide messaging that raises awareness about the park among the users.

The park’s story and branded symbology create an important conceptual framework for how the master plan addresses Branding as a system. the following visual summary serves as a reference for the detailed approaches elaborated on the following pages.

1. Vision and Voice

VISION: The Freedom Park Conservancy will develop our cherished Atlanta park as an innovative green space celebrated for its inspiring origin and beauty. The conservancy will enhance neigh borhood connections with forward-thinking design, programming, and worldclass works of art that encourage visitors to explore the Many Paths to Freedom.

MISSION: The mission of the Freedom Park Conservancy is to promote the improvement and preservation of the park for the benefit of a diverse public.

VALUES:

VOICE AND PERSONALITY: When creating Freedom Park materials we can all do our part to ensure one, consistent brand voice—make sure the character of the work we generate is not in conflict with these traits:

Progress has been made to establish the “story” and “symbology” components of the park with visual brand guidelines for a “unified and ownable brand for Freedom Park”(Freedom Park Brand Guidelines, January 2019, Perkins+Will). The master plan build on that foundation and helps expand the graphic brand identity towards placemaking opportunities that manifest in park’s material palette, signage, furnishings, and merchandise.

2. Design Palette

LOGO: TAG LINE:

COLOR PALETTE:

BRANDED GATEWAYS MAP

LEGEND

DEFINING GATEWAYS AND EDGES

THE SITES AND STRUCTURES HIGHLIGHTED IN THE DIAGRAM HIGHLIGHT KEY GATEWAYS, INTERSECTIONS, AND EDGES TO BE ENHANCED AND DEFINED.

Gateway Walls

Ice Bridge Branding/Signage

Regional Gateway Signage

Local Neighborhood Signage Boundary

BRANDING AND WAYFINDING

Placemaking Opportunities

1HARDSCAPE AND ARCHITECTURAL PALETTE

The main objective of branded approach to hardscape and architectural palette is to achieve a cohesive aesthetic environment that is both responsive to the influences within the urban fabric surrounding the park and recognizable system that is elegant, understated, and carefully considered.

a. Hardscape/Pavements Material Palette

Atlanta’s vernacular palette of concrete, brick, and granite for horizontal surfaces is recommended to achieve authentic regional look, durability, and lower maintenance costs. Modular concrete pavers can be considered in case-by-case applications. In a few instances, the plan illustrates more detailed paving design where it might correspond to special placemaking opportunities, such as interpretive storytelling, wayfinding, and gathering plaza nodes. Those paved ares mark important entrances to the park, and should complement branded approaches to furnishings, signage, and planting at those locations.

b. Architectural Elements Material Palette

Architectural elements in the park consist of landscape walls, roadway trench walls, railings, fences, kiosks, and bridges. A combination of granite stacked and cladded walls should be considered to maintain consistency with the existing park context. Maintaining painted metal as the material used in railing and bridge detailing will allow for consistent look with an opportunity to explore a more contemporary formal language. Building pavilions, if considered, would set the strongest architectural precedent for the park and should remain within the same palette of hardscape and architectural materials.

Hardscape architectural material palette

Stamped

Concrete

Stone

Dark

Dark metal bridge Stone

Modular

BRANDING AND WAYFINDING

Placemaking Opportunities

Furnishings recommendations summary:

FURNISHINGS

Objective for the furnishings, aside from functionality of providing comfort, moments of rest, litter control, and bike parking, is to create continuity with programmatic agenda and brand identity of the park. Due to the relative ease of implementation, a distinctive furnishing program within the park is one of the more readily achievable measures that can strengthen the park’s identity in the short-term.

a. Furnishings Palette

The established furniture palette in Freedom Park consists of benches, litter receptacles, light poles and fixtures of historically-inspired “traditional” style, that tends to provide a successful “neutral” look in an urban park application. The unique storylines of Freedom Park that build its identity around art, civic program, and educational activities should be supported with furniture selections accommodating such programs in “outdoor classroom” environments with unique artful approaches. Custom furniture design can be approached as part of the art program for the park.

Configurable arrangements of “outdoor classrooms”

ILLUSTRATIONS OF SELECT CUSTOM SEATING

Historical bench

Classroom desk-inspired seating example

Traditional classroom desk as educational seating typology

“Civic-dialogue”-inspired roundtable”-inspired

Historical light pole fixture

Historical litter receptacle

Open loop bike rack

BRANDING AND WAYFINDING

Placemaking Opportunities

Wayfinding and Signage recommendations summary:

3SIGNAGE AND WAYFINDING

Introduction of clear branded signage for more intuitive navigation and wayfinding is an essential first step in strengthening the park’s brand identity. Signage and wayfinding hierarchy needs to address park’s regional and local gateway nodes with a cohesive family of locational and directional marker assemblies targeting pedestrian and vehicular traffic where needed. As a whole, the new wayfinding should seek to consolidate multiple branded signs by various entities at the same location together to reduce visual clutter in the public realm.

a. Signage and Wayfinding Elements

The new signage system should fit with the prevalent architectural material palette of stone walls and dark metal. Limited use of color should be leveraged towards clear wayfinding goals and consistent branded appearance of the signs, while variations on the standard identity and directional family of signs may take form of artful interpretive panel objects. A robust virtual wayfinding and interpretive information app should be developed for Freedom Park and integrated with other active wayfinding platforms used to navigate the area.

Unconsolidated signsnot recommended

Aging interpretive signsnot recommended

Identity and directional signage at pedestrian

Stone threshold walls Historic landmark signs

A family of identity and directional signage that can be free-standing and also integrated with existing and new stone walls

Information signage at scenic overlooks

Virtual interpretive tour via park app Artful gateway interpretive signage

ILLUSTRATIONS OF SELECT WAYFINDING AND SIGNAGE

BRANDING AND WAYFINDING Placemaking Opportunities

BRANDED MERCHANDISE

Beyond representing the park’s branded symbology in a functional package of clothing or household items, the real opportunity for Freedom Park’s branded merchandise is to raise awareness about the park’s unique image and act in support of park-specific programming.

a. Branded Merchandise Opportunities

An approach to branded merchandise development in support of park programming is illustrated below. The passive nature of the park combined with the civic themes and community traditions create an inspiration for a “picnic collection” of a pillow, blanket, and a tote set in branded colors, suitable for leisurely “picnics on the lawn” or a quirky local tradition of large pillow fights on the lawn space within the Candler Park neighborhood.

Pillow design inspired by the park’s pillow fight tradition

Branded collection of merchandise developed in support of park activities

Branded Merchandise recommendations summary:

ILLUSTRATIONS OF SELECT MERCHANDISE DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES

ART Art Siting Opportunities

PUBLIC ART-RELATED STRATEGIES:

Since it’s official designation as “Atlanta Public Art Park” in 2007, there is a need to start understanding the role of Freedom Park in supporting and promoting the arts as a much stronger proposition that can be strategic for both the park’s identity and the City. Positioning Freedom Park as a national and international art destination must embrace its scale, unique narratives, location, and the art community that can be showcased here unlike anywhere else in Atlanta.

Master plan recommendations for the art program strategy in the park are founded in the understanding of art opportunities as they relate to the park’s specificity in:

1. Art Siting Geography;

2. Emerging Curatorial Narratives;

3. Art Administration, Oversight, and Logistics (that tie to the current oversight and management of public art in the park by the Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, and other public agency departments).

B. “Neighborhood Gallery Wings”

Freedom Park site’s outline based on a road interchange footprint organically sets it up as a series of distinct “gallery wings” that one would find in typical museum architecture. The unique proposition of each neighborhood, be it historic architecture, civic sites, nature, or active street life, should infuse thematic specificity into the wing-specific art-curatorial approaches.

ART SITING: PARK’S UNIQUE ART GEOGRAPHY

The unique spatial structure of the park suggests great potential for an original and diverse art environment. The constant flow of vehicular, bike, and pedestrian traffic through the park also sets it up as a site where art program can dynamically engage visitors through temporary and performance-based expression. The availability of virtual platform approach to art guiding and archiving makes the temporary art activation strategy even more viable. The future art program for Freedom Park can differentiate itself by the way it incorporates cultural expression that is ephemeral, performance-based, and extends beyond the typical sculpture siting approaches.

The first step towards a holistic art experience in the park is the carefully considered framing of opportune “art sites”. Of those there are may, ranging from more typical public art park sites to the ones completely unique to Freedom Park:

A. “Olmstedian Vista Rooms”

As the original design of the park is perceivably modeled on Ol mstedian principles of park design such as orchestration of movement, staging of views and vistas already happens in three out of four wings in the park. A series of “rooms” framed with trees form a straightforward if somewhat traditional “sculpture garden” setting to be further explored for powerful sculptural statements.

C. “Roadside Gallery”

Park edges dominant roadside condition becomes an advantage from art visibility perspective, it being made available to large multi-modal audiences. John Lewis Freedom Parkway corridor is a prime opportunity to explore civic sculpture and art lighting in conjunction with “Flowering Forest Tribute” being developed along the corridor.

D. “Multi-Valent Bufferscape”

The high perimeter to acreage ratio of the park implies extensive edge conditions, many of which interface with private properties. The interstitial space between private backyards and park trails is largely undefined, but has become a site of strong volunteerism for maintenance by the local community. Over time, if positioned as a special feature of the park, this perimeter space can become more legible via small DIY interventions and delightful micro-art sites curated by the neighboring community.

E. “Virtual Museum”

The narratives of the park are so layered that a traditional wayfin ding and signage approach of kiosks and interpretive signs would hardly do it justice. Art is yet another layer that can be included in the virtual navigation platform for the park. As temporary installa tions are removed, they will be archived in the virtual “art collec tion” of the park.

ART CONTEXT MAP

LEGEND

ART Themes and Administration

ART THEMES: EMERGING CURATORIAL NARRATIVES

To position the park as a unique international arts space, FPC will focus on art that celebrates Freedom Park’s unique origin and physical position between two Nobel Centers. Illuminated by its history rooted in civic action, Freedom Park seeks to spark the collective imagination and kindle conversation about civil rights and inclusive community action through sculpture and site-specific installations.

Each wing of the park will be themed in support of this larger vision:

1. CENTRAL CORE: Carter Peace Corridor

2. NORTH WING: Civil Rights Corridor (John Lewis)

3. EAST WING: Human Rights Corridor

4. SOUTH WING: Civic Action Corridor (CAUTION)

5. WEST WING: MLK Peace Corridor

While these themes are not intended to prevent other non-themed art from being considered or displayed in the park, the goal is to highlight Freedom Park’s history, creating a framework for art to reinforce its unique storytelling potential.

Over the years, before and after this official designation, multiple art installations found their home in Freedom Park, namely the Bridge sculpture by Thornton Dial, Homage to King by Xavier Medina, 54 Columns by Sol Le Witt, New Endings by Diane Kempler, Tree of Life and Kan by Yvonne Domenge, and a few temporary installa tions, such as Elder by Masud Olufani, Portrait of John Lewis by Stan Herd, and Dwelling by Mark Wentzel and Robert Henry. The neighborhood context is also rich with art galleries and street art sites that can be found within walking distance from no matter where you are in the park. The future curation of Freedom park will aim to weave interconnected art experiences that will intentfully consider the dialogue between the existing and future works of art.

ART ADMINISTRATION: OVERSIGHT AND LOGISTICS

To better partner with the other agencies involved in art placement and programming in the park, Freedom Park Conservancy’s Arts Committee is taking steps to encourage and support art that reinforces the unique history and physical characteristics of the Park.

Freedom Park is officially designated as “Atlanta Public Art Park” to serve as a venue for the installation of temporary and permanent public art and siting works of sculpture, for the purpose of introducing the arts to the citizens of the city of Atlanta.” This formalized the park as a platform for supporting and promoting public art in the City, aiding tourism and economic development.

The resolution approved by Mayor Shirley Franklin on behalf of the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs in 2007 states that art will be “developed and programmed pursuant to and in full compliance with any existing or future plans applicable to the park adopted by the City of Atlanta Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, The Freedom Park Conservancy, the Public Art Advisory Committee, and the Department of Planning.”

The Conservancy is committed to increasing the capacity for arts programming through community outreach and awareness to promote a diversity of art and representation by both international artists and local/regional artists. By establishing an Arts Curatorial Advisory Committee that includes professional curators and members reflective of the city’s diversity, the Conservancy will provide an objective opinion on specific potential art to ensure its quality is in line with both the Atlanta Art Park designation and Freedom Park Arts goals. The intention of this review process is not to exclude any art or artist from working in Freedom Park, but rather to encourage consistently high quality art that speaks to the unique characteristics of the park.

Performance art space at Mills Garden Plaza

Interactive art at the Moon Forest Room

Land and nature-inspired art at Freedom

Enhanced artful arrival to 54 Columns at Randolph Belvedere

ILLUSTRATIONS OF SELECT ART SITES

ART Art Narrative Manifestations

POTENTIAL FORMAL MANIFESTATIONS OF FREEDOM PARK CURATORIAL NARRATIVES

The specific themes and topics of Freedom Park tap into art-historical narratives of contemporary art practices from around the world. Below are a few examples of how such works may manifest themselves in the park environment.

ART AS ENGAGEMENT ART AS INFRASTRUCTURE ART AS MAINTENANCE FUNCTIONAL ART

The civic activism and civil rights narratives of the park are the drivers behind the main art theme that can bring those narratives further into light. Art as activism may take form as permanent installations that celebrate civil rights leadership and events, also temporary and performance-based works that fully utilize the processional potential of the park corridors, and punctuate spaces of education and assembly defined within the master plan.

Park’s infrastructural beginnings resulted in the a system of infrastructural elements of road embankments, bridges, crossings, trails put in full view for the multi-modal audiences. Discovering a different kind of canvas for storytelling in concrete underpasses and walls, pivots the infrastructural narrative of the park towards more cultural commentary and expression. Green infrastructure of the park is yet another important opportunity to address climate resilience and environmental role of the urban park at the very headwaters of the Eastern Continental Divide watershed.

The peripheral spaces of Freedom Park evoke artistic practices that frame land management and mediate between cultivated landscape and urban development. In the vein of Situational, Conceptual, and Eco-Art, the neighboring community’s practice of volunteered maintenance of the transitional zone between the trails and adjacent properties already overlaps citizen-led creative ventures with maintenance. Focused remediation of overgrown and ill-defined spaces as art endeavor can elevate advocacy for wildlife corridors, pollinator habitat, urban agriculture, and citizen engagement.

Art can be useful. Wherever possible, the utilitarian needs of this Atlanta Public Art Park should be addressed in a thoughtful and artistic manner. Urban furniture such as benches and bike racks, lighting, and bridges need to contribute to the park’s aesthetic environment. Consistent with that approach, branded signage and wayfinding of the park should be considered in concert with the art program, in the way a museum gallery signage would complement and not overpower bespoke art expressions.

ART Art Narratives and Themes

NATURE-EMBEDDED ART HISTORY FRAMING AS ART ART AND PUBLIC HEALTH ART AND PLAY

The ecological transect of urban and ex-urban nature that forms the fabric of the park is a powerful framework for nature-inspired and nature-embedded art. Environmental and Land Art lineages can inform a curatorial approach that frames the park’s dramatic topography, lush forest canopy, elemental changes in the atmosphere, and wildlife inhabitants of the urban realm.

Freedom Park site’s histories form an urban palimpsest that may not be apparent to an uninitiated observer. Uncovering these histories, telling stories of the past struggles and achievements through art and not just interpretive signage is an important stance that can contribute to a critical evaluation of the past for a more just, inclusive, and environmentally conscious future.

The history of public parks and public health policy is inextricably linked. Freedom Park’s proximity to the CDC headquarters and the year of the pandemic that activated the trails and provided a much needed respite for the surrounding community brings to the fore the important ways the park contributes to public health. Movement, exercise, air quality, water quality, mental health, accessibility should inform art themes that leverage Freedom Park’s identity as a “movement park”.

Multiple schools surrounding the park , and thousands of families live near the park and use it as a convenient neighborhood amenity for recreation, leisure, and play. Art considered through a playful lens can bring interactivity, tactility, and joy alongside beauty and art education.

ART World Art Park Precedents

ART PARK PRECEDENTS

WORLD-CLASS SCULPTURE PARKS

Domestic and International

Worldwide, there are many notable art parks. Whether a collection of pieces from the most famous sculptors and land artists or a locus of celebration of local art and culture, each park has a unique and vibrant identity enhanced by branding and the experiential sequence by which the visitor travels from one installation to the next. Freedom Park is on the larger end of suburban/urban park scale, and given its location, and clear narratives, could become an art park of international reputation.

Storm King Art Center, Mountainville, NY End owment / Art MuseumTheTippetRiseArtCenter,Fishtail , MTFoundation

Fran andRay StarkSculpture Garden,TrustLosAngeles,CA /ArtMuseumCass Sculpture Garden, Sussex, EnglandFoundation / Endowment

Domaine Du Muy, Le Muy, France P rivate Sculptur e Collection Yorkshire Sculpture Park, West Bretton, UK Foundation / Publically Funded Kröller-MullerMuseum,Otterlo,TheNetherlands Museum

Hakone Open Air Museum, Ha kone, Japan / Museum

Park Güell, Barcelona, Spain Municipal Park MinneapolisSculptureGarden,Minneapolis,MN.NasherMuseum/MunicipalPark/Partnership Museum, Dallas, Texas Foundation/ MuseumChangchun World Sculpture Park Changchun China, Theme Park / Museum Millennium Park, Chicago, IL. Public / Private Partnership Park.

Socrates Sculpture Park, NYC Park / Culture Center Suburban

Laumier SculpturePark,St. Louis, MO. Non-Profit/ Partnership Rice University, Houston, TX

National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden / Smithsonian Washington D.C., Museum / Foundation

The Sydney And Walda Besthoff Garden, New Orleans, LA / Museum Eke ber gp rke Os lo, Norway Private Collecti on University Indianapolis ArtsPark ,Indianapolis IN / Museum and Endowment DonaldJ.Hall SculpturePark, KansasCity, Museum/ Foundation Buffalo Bayou Park,Houston, TXPartnership/Conservancy Olympic Sculpture Park, Seattle, WA. Art Museum / Foundation / Endowment

NASHER SCULPTURE CENTER 3 ac.

CASS SCULPTURE GARDEN 4.5 ac.

MILLINEUM PARK 24 ac.

INDIANAPOLIS ARTS PARK 9.5 ac.

FREEDOM PARK 130 ac.

BUFFALO BAYOU PARK 160 ac.

SOCRATES SCULPTURE PARK 5 ac. SEATTLE OLYMPIC PARK 9 ac.

NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART SCULPTURE GARDEN 6 ac.

MINNEAPOLIS SCULPTURE GARDEN 11.5 ac.

DONALD J. HALL SCULPTURE GARDEN 22 ac.

WORLD CLASS SCULPTURE PARKS

As all the art parks differ greatly in their specific type, history, branding strategy, unique elements, and funding strategies, Freedom Park’s model for art curation, management, and funding may not strictly align with a specific precedent, but borrow strategies from multiple national and international examples.

Worldwide, there are many notable art parks. Whether a collection of pieces from the most famous sculpturists and artists or a celebration of local art and culture, each park has a unique and vibrant identity enhanced by branding and the experiential sequence by which the visitor travels from piece to piece. Freedom Park is on the large end of suburban/urban parks and could easily become an art park of international reputation.

STORM KING ART CENTER 500 ac.

HAKONE OPEN AIR MUSEUM 17 ac. KRÖLLER-MÜLLER MUSEUM 60 ac.

NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF ART 164 ac.

PARK GÜELL 28.5 ac.

LAUMEIER SCULPTURE PARK 105 ac. JUPITER ARTLAND 120 ac.

CHANGCHUN WORLD SCULPTURE PARK 199 ac.

YORKSHIRE SCULPTURE GARDEN 204 ac. EKEBEGPARKEN SCULPTURE PARK 245 ac. RICE UNIVERSITY 292 ac.

FRAN AND RAY STARK SCULPTURE GARDEN / GETTY MUSEUM 1184 ac. ac.

SYDNEY AND WALDA BESTHOFF SCULPTURE GARDEN / CITY PARK 2000 ac.

ART World Art Park Precedents

BUFFALO BAYOU PARK

Location: Houston, TX

Context: Urban Size: 160 Ac.

This resilient linear nature park is featuring both world-renowned and local artists through permanent and temporary sculptures, and a subterranean art gallery in a reclaimed early 20th century water cistern.

SOCRATES SCULPTURE PARK

Location: New York City, NY

Context: Urban Size: 4.5 Ac.

Once an abandoned landfill, a group of artists created a free sculpture garden based on the belief that reclamation, revitalization and creative expression are essential to survival.

LAUMEIRE SCULPTURE PARK

Location: St. Lewis, MO

Context: Suburban Size: 105 Ac.

With over 70 works of large-scale outdoor sculptures, this park engages the community though art and nature. Aided by many partnerships, event programming is a high priority.

NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF

MODERN ART

Location: Raleigh, NC

Context: Suburban Size: 164 Ac.

This nature park features commissioned temporary and permanent art that is inspired by the natural environment.

JUPITER ARTLAND

Location: Edinburgh, Scotland

Context: Suburban Size: 120 Ac.

Jupiter Art Land was established in 1999 by art collectors. The park includes site specific artworks and a small indoor gallery space, store and and outdoor cafe.

BUFFALO BAYOU PARK & UNIVERSITY

MILLENNIUM PARK

MINNEAPOLIS SCULPTURE GARDEN

NASHER MUSEUM

EKEBERGPARKEN

KROLLER- MULLER MUSEUM

CASS SCULPTURE GARDEN PARK GÜELL SCULPTURE GARDEN

NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART AND SCULPTURE

SEATTLE OLYMPIC PARK

TIPPET RISE ART CENTER

DONALD J. HALL GARDEN

LAUMEIRE SCULPTURE PARK

NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF ART

SYDNEY AND WALDA BESTHOFF SCULPTURE GARDEN

ATLANTA FREEDOM PARK

INDIANAPOLIS ARTSPARK SCULPTURE PARK

STORM KING ART CENTER

FRAN AND RAY STARK TERRACE

CHANGCHUN WORLD SCULPTURE PARK

HAKONE OPEN-AIR MUSEUM

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Conservancy

Atlanta’s Freedom Park Master Plan

SEVEN SIGNATURE PROJECTS

FREEDOM PARK WEST

TRIBUTE TO JOHN LEWIS

FREEDOM PARK ART PROGRAM

The framework for the master plan is reflective of the park’s unique cultural history of civic activism, and identifies future development projects focused on the principles of civic engagement.

The “Seven Signature Projects” are the seven “big ideas” for the future of the park, each in one way or another addressing all seven goals of the master plan, while remaining consistent with the unique value proposition of Freedom Park as Atlanta’s civic open green space.

In order to assist in developing interest in park improvements and coordinate design efforts of interrelated projects, each Signature Project strategically combines a series of smaller subprojects that are to be studied, planned, fundraised for, and potentially implemented together, as a singular effort.

“Randolph Belvedere” at Fourth Ward Art Bridges

John Lewis Plaza in Poncey-Highland

King Square Gateway at Jackson Street Bridge

FREEDOM PARK DISTRICT MARTA GATEWAYCIRCUIT

“Randolph Belvedere” at Fourth Ward Art Bridges

Branded landscape and “History Wall” at MARTA Station’s gateway to Inman Park

“Freedom Commons” Great Lawn in Candler Park

The Peace Circuit at the Carter Presidential Center COMMONS

FREEDOM PARK WEST

FREEDOM PARK WEST

Freedom Park West project leverages iconic neighborhood assets to develop opportunistic, branded placemaking improvements to the parks western-most reach. This signature project incorporates planned City improvements to the iconic Jackson Street bridge with the development of King Square, offering enhanced connectivity to the King Center, multi-use public event infrastructure and park wayfinding infrastructure. In conjunction, the project likewise studies the potential redevelopment of the Boulevard / John Lewis Freedom Parkway intersection with the goal of establishing a formal western gateway to the park. Pedestrian and bike improvements to this area will likewise increase public safety while providing increase connectivity between adjacent residential, mixed-use and the Barkway Dog Park.

Jackson St. Overlook

In addition to safety measures for pedestrians and bikes planned by the City, introduction of placemaking features and wayfinding at this popular downtown overlook.

Boulevard Gateway

Branded gateway plazas and pedestrian crossing improvements at Boulevard intersection to enhance park identity, wayfinding and pedestrian/bike crossing safety.

King Square

Cain St.enhancements to create a flexible event plaza space activating park’s west gateway, drawing visitorship to Sweet Auburn neighborhood civic sites, local businesses and the King Center.

Freedom Park West Gateway

Gateway features with info kiosk, wayfinding, seating for visiting groups, complementary to the King Square activation; plaza improvements at the “Homage to King” monument.

1 2 3 4 5

Barkway Art Corner

Art plaza at the NE corner of John Lewis Freedom Pkwy and Boulevard, monumental sculptural element with day-to-night presence. Direct stair access and accessible path into the dog park from the intersection.

FREEDOM WEST GATEWAY

BOULEVARD GATEWAY ART CORNER

JACKSON ST. OVERLOOK SQUARE

TRIBUTE TO JOHN LEWIS List

TRIBUTE TO JOHN LEWIS

This project celebrates the legacy of Congressman John Lewis through the development of commemorative planting enhancements along Congressman John Lewis Freedom Parkway and the development of John Lewis Plaza and Lake Lewis. The project leverages identified partnerships with both Georgia Department of Transportation and Trees Atlanta for roadway planting improvements, as well as the national interest in the legacy of Congressman Lewis.

John Lewis Plaza

An enhanced ceremonial public gathering space on both sides of John Lewis Freedom Pkwy. Addition of lighting for “The Bridge” sculpture by Thornton Dial celebrating Rep. John Lewis and restoration of existing C.A.U.T.I.O.N. plaques and donor bricks, which will remain with the sculpture.

North Avenue Gateway

Pedestrian/bike crossing safety improvements via branded gateway plazas and crosswalk striping.

Lake Lewis

A large water body with riverine garden edges and boardwalk overlooks complementing the John Lewis Plaza.

Habitat Buffer

Native plant buffer and maintenance program near residential properties.

John Lewis Median Garden

Perennial garden planting in the median along John Lewis Freedom Pkwy., developed in commemoration of John Lewis and coordinated with GDOT’s initiative.

John Lewis Flowering Forest Tribute

Seasonal display of flowering trees commemorates the life of John Lewis along the John Lewis Freedom Pkwy. from Jackson St. to Ponce-De-Leon.

John Lewis Median Garden

Perennial garden planting in the John Lewis Freedom Pkwy median between Boulevard and Randolph as an homage to John Lewis’s legacy (in coordination with GDOT initiative). 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

JOHN LEWIS PLAZA

JOHN LEWIS FLOWERING FOREST TRIBUTE

HABITAT BUFFER NORTH AVE. GATEWAY

JOHN LEWIS MEDIAN GARDEN LAKE LEWIS

FREEDOM PARK ART PROGRAM Projects List

FREEDOM PARK ART PROGRAM

The Freedom Park Art Program seeks to position the park as not only Atlanta’s premier Art Park, but also a destination worthy of both national and international attention. The project will establish a curatorial framework for the development of art programs within that park that leverage broader narratives in alignment with the Goals of the master plan. Associated, opportunistic programming associated with near-term planned city art installations and potential interventions with the highly-visible park ‘Ice Bridge’ will help generate interested in the program to catalyze future investment and strengthen the overall identify of the park.

1 2

Ice Bridge Art Folly

Architectural/art enhancements to the Ice Bridge that will serve as a branding/art space for Freedom Park.

Art Program

Curated art organized by thematic “galleries” as visitors travel from one wing of the park to another.

1 ICE BRIDGE ART FOLLY

ART PROGRAM

FREEDOM COMMONS

Project List

FREEDOM COMMONS

The development of Freedom Commons establishes a legible loop trail and enhanced connectivity associated with the iconic landscape characterized in this bucolic setting.

This public commons provides an identifiable destination point along the park’s eastern reach to support picnics, art programs, a walking loop and related passive uses. At-grade pedestrian and bike safety improvements across Moreland remain the short-term priority.

An associated gateway plaza developed longer-term will form a branded gateway for the park and act as a key wayfinding landmark for its users. Potential development of a pedestrian bridge over Moreland will likewise be studied to determine feasibility and compatibility with neighborhood character. If developed, this bridge would further enhance safe connections for both regional trail users as well a children utilizing the trails for connectivity to Mary Lin Elementary School.

Moreland Crossing and Plaza

Moreland street frontage developed into a safe crossing and community gathering space that serves as a regional gateway to the park with added signage and seating.

Freedom Commons Art Loop

Added pathway completing the loop around the lawn, enhanced with character shade and understory plantings.

1 3 2

Moreland Bridge*

A bike/pedestrian bridge across Moreland Ave. developed as a “canopy walkway” with buffer tree plantings at the landings and a staircase connection to the Moreland Gateway Plaza.

* The first step in evaluating the feasibility of such a bridge will include a coordinated study with ATLDOT and GDOT as well as collaboration with adjacent neighborhood associations.

MORELAND BRIDGE

MORELAND CROSSING AND PLAZA

2 1 FREEDOM COMMONS ART LOOP

PEACE CIRCUIT

Projects List

PEACE CIRCUIT

The Peace Circuit establishes a legible trail loop with prioritized pedestrian and bike facilities within the heart of Freedom Park. The loop will provide legibility for navigation and create a highly visible, active public health infrastructural program element for the par. Additional connection points to the Atlanta Beltline will likewise provide new opportunities for comprehensive regional mobility and enhance city-wide offerings for park and recreation.

Connectivity to the Carter Presidential Center will likewise be enhanced, generating desired foot-traffic to the Center while strengthening the symbiotic relationship between both public amenities. The plan envisions the decommissioning of the southern leg of Freedom Parkway, moving east-bound traffic along a redeveloped two-day road along the northern border of the Carter Presidential Center. The realignment of the existing roadways opens valuable public land for the park and significantly reduces existing vehicular/pedestrian conflicts within the park. Likewise, enhanced connectivity to the Carter Presidential Center will be developed through re-defined south gateway points as well as a north pedestrian bridge providing safe access over Freedom Parkway.

1

R. McGill Gateway

Pedestrian/bike crossing safety improvements via branded gateway plazas and crosswalk striping, supporting Ralph McGill East-West movement to and from the Beltline.

Pedestrian Bridge to Carter Presidential Center

A signature pedestrian bridge providing a safe crossing between Poncey-Highland Neighborhood and Carter Presidential Center.

Beltline North Connection

A nature trail pedestrian shortcut along the existing easement corridor connecting JL Freedom Pkwy/Ralph McGill intersection with the Beltline and Fourth Ward Detention Park.

Peace Circuit North

A gathering plaza with seating, shade, and art programming opportunities.

Peace Circuit South

Safety improvements for micro-mobile commuting and exercise by adding secondary trails and legible striping for navigation. Interpretive panels or serial art pieces may be used consistently anywhere along the Circuit.

N. Highland Gateway

Pedestrian/bike crossing safety improvements via branded gateway plazas and crosswalk striping.

Peace Circuit Safety Crossings

HAWK (High-Intensity Activated Crosswalk) signals and striping at the four main pedestrian crossings to CPC from surrounding neighborhoods.

Peace Circuit West

Decommissioned East Freedom Pkwy NE creates seamless connectivity opportunity for non-vehicular recreational traffic to the West of CPC. Newly defined 1 mile pedestrian/bike/skating loop promotes public health with exercise stations and access to iconic views to downtown.

FREEDOM PARK DISTRICT

FREEDOM PARK DISTRICT

The Freedom Park District project seeks to develop strong connections between adjacent neighborhood cultural assets, commercial establishments and open space to establish a legible park district that elevates the identity of neighborhoods while enhancing offerings to park users. The establishment of the park district will be constructed through partnerships with adjacent businesses, community and park groups by developing legible ‘loops’ through each of the adjoining neighborhoods. These loops may take the form of wayfinding signage, graphics and/or digital apps that highlight cultural narratives, historic information, retail and related destinations within walking distance of the park.

Neighborhood Gateways

To translate the outlined strategies into tangible outcomes, the master plan identifies concrete “projects” or “actions” throughout the park’s geography.

Neighborhood Loops

The development of strong connections between adjacent neighborhood cultural assets, commercial establishments and open space to establish a legible park district that elevates the identity of neighborhoods while enhancing offerings to park users.

1 2 3

Interpretive Program

Signage and branding implemented throughout the site through the use of a banner system, gateway elements, branded crossings, digital applications, historical markers, and art.

HISTORY

MARTA GATEWAY

MARTA GATEWAY

The MARTA Gateway establishes a regional connection point to Freedom Park by formalizing and enhancing the parks connectivity with the existing Inman Park MARTA station. In partnership with MARTA, this project seeks to make modifications to the existing parking and bus facilities to improve pedestrian safety and elevate the experience of visitors entering the park through associated beautification. Freedom Park branding, identity, and legibility can be enhanced through the development of art and interpretive program elements highlighting the area’s unique and rich history.

Marta Parking Grove

Improvements to MARTA’s parking lot efficiency, stormwater management, heat island and aesthetics with a thematic grove tree isle planting.

Dekalb Ave. Gateway

A regional arrival to the park from the south via a processional plaza space with an interpretive art wall recounting the history of the park and area neighborhoods, including efforts by C.A.U.T.I.O.N. and Roadbusters.

1 2 3

Reynoldstown Gateway

MARTA Station’s pedestrian bridge interpretive art graphics to celebrate park’s connection to Reynoldstown across the tracks and the significance of bridging the subcontinental divide.

REYNOLDSTOWN GATEWAY

DEKALB AVE. GATEWAY

MARTA PARKING GROVE1 2 3

“King Square” at Cain St. in Sweet Auburn

“King Square” at Cain Sweet Auburn

“Mills Garden Plaza” near Howard Middle School in Old Fourth Ward

“Randolph Belvedere” at Fourth Ward Art Bridges

Branded “History Wall” at MARTA Station’s Gateway to Inman Park

“Parking Grove” at MARTA Stations’ Gateway to Inman Park

“Treehouse Village” History-Themed Playground in Inman Park

“Flowering Forest” Tree Tribute Procession along John Lewis Freedom Pkwy.

Pedestrian Bridge to Carter Presidential Center in Poncey-Highland

John Lewis Plaza in Poncey-Highland

“Lake Lewis Wetland” in Poncey-Highland

“Copenhill Terrace” along Decommissioned Roadway Next to Carter Presidential Center

“Freedom Commons” Great Lawn in Candler Park

“Freedom Commons Plaza” and Crossing at Moreland Ave.

“Freedom Commons Plaza”, Crossing, and Pedestrian Bridge* at Moreland Ave.

* Implementation of a pedestrian bridge requires a detailed feasibility study and neighborhood involvement.

“Moon Trail” with Land Art Installation in Candler Park

“Meadow Rooms” at Mary Lin Elementary in Candler Park

Branded Gateway at Mary Lin Elementary School

Lullwater Creek Outdoor Classrooms in Druid Hills

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Conservancy

Atlanta’s Freedom Park Master Plan

ATLANTA’S FREEDOM PARK MASTER PLAN IMPLEMENTATION

Atlanta Parks Department Statement:

“The City of Atlanta Parks Design Department views Park master plans as road maps that guide every phase of parks management from design to programming and maintenance. The review of Park Permitting & Design ensures high quality planning, design and construction standards for public use, enjoyment and safety. Our Vision is to make Atlanta the city of choice through exceptional spaces and memorable experiences that enrich the lives of residents and visitors while strengthening our communities. A City of Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation stamp of approval and signature is required on all permit plan documents prior to permit submission to the City of Atlanta permitting office in the Office of Buildings. The submission of any proposed project in Freedom Park requires official letters of approval, review, stipulations and requirements for the City of Atlanta Parks and Recreation Department, including adherence to the NPU process for neighborhood engagement, and approval from the following departments including Arborist stamp, Site Development, Department of Watershed Management, Army Corps of Engineer, Bureau of Buildings, The Urban Design Commission, State and/or County authorities.”

FROM STRATEGIES TO ACTIONS

Framework for Tactical Project Deployment

To translate the outlined strategies into tangible outcomes, the master plan identifies concrete “projects” or “actions” throughout the park’s geography. Project categorization methodology systematizes possible actions to guide the Conservancy towards implementation of improvements in a flexible and opportunistic manner.

PROJECTS “ZONES” AND “BUNDLES”

Plan organization uses the “wings” of the park to create five“PROJECT ZONES”, the sixth zone captures park as a whole.“PROJECT BUNDLES” are groupings of projects within each zone based on their logical inter-dependencies. Such inter-dependencies imply continuity of spacial characteristics and planning synergies of the bundle suggesting implementation on the same timeline. Bundling identifies the “big ideas” that help unlock the “reality-changing” potential of places within the park.

PROJECTS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE PARK BOUNDARIES

Because Freedom park is so integrated with the surrounding neighborhoods, institutional, and infrastructural adjacencies, a few projects outside the park boundaries proper were identified to leverage these adjacencies. These projects should be considered in order to unlock opportunities benefiting future safety, access, programming, and character of the area as a whole.

PROJECTS PERFORMANCE CRITERIA COMPARISON

Each potential project is evaluated based on its ability to have multiple contributing qualities to the park’s future transformation. Together, these qualities create a“performance criteria bar” profile unique to each project. It consists of its potential to generate implementation partnerships within its political and planning context, ability to improve bike and pedestrian circulation safety, its contribution to ecological richness of the park, its potential to attract various user groups with available activities, and create a memorable place. This profile is color-coded, to help make navigation through the long list of potential projects more visually intuitive.

MASTER PLAN PROJECTS MAP

This map illustrates all site-specific recommendations of the master plan. In addition to the projects itemized below, park-wide improvements and programs have been identified to capture opportunities that transcend localized, and more self-contained interventions.

LEGEND

Park BoundaryProjects Inside Park Boundary Projects Outside Park Boundary

ZONE I: NORTH WING Projects List

Zone I contains the north wing of the park entirely within the Poncey-Highland neighborhood boundaries. The driving ideas for the potential of park spaces in Zone I include the following:

• A PLACE OF CIVIC GATHERING

• PUBLIC NATURE OF PARK SPACES DUE TO ADJACENT PARKWAY

• HIDDEN CONNECTIVITY POTENTIAL ALONG THE WEST SIDE OF THE WING

PROJECTS

ZONE II: EAST WING Projects List

Zone II contains the east wing of the park mostly in the Candler Park and Druid Hills neighborhood boundaries. The driving ideas for the potential of park spaces in Zone II include the following:

• BUILDING ON A TRANSECT OF URBAN NATURE EXPERIENCE FROM CREEK TO UPLAND MEADOW

• CREATING A SEQUENCE OF ART AND GARDEN ROOMS

• EXPANDING ON THE HIERARCHY OF PATHS AND CREATING LOOPS TO EXPERIENCE NATURE AND ART

PROJECTS

ZONE PROJECTS ENLARGEMENT MAP

Park Boundary

Zone III encompasses the south wing of the park within the Inman Park neighborhood boundaries. The driving ideas for the potential of park spaces in Zone III include the following:

• A JOURNEY BETWEEN HISTORIC INFRASTRUCTURE GATEWAYS THROUGH A FOREST RESTORATION LANDSCAPE • CELEBRATION OF INTIMATE CONNECTION BETWEEN NEIGHBORHOOD AND PARK

ZONE III: SOUTH WING Projects List PROJECTS

ZONE ENLARGEMENT MAP

Park Boundary

ZONE IV: WEST WING

Projects List

Zone IV falls within the West Wing of the park within the Fourth Ward neighborhood boundaries. The driving ideas for the potential of park spaces in Zone IV include the following:

• CAPITALIZE ON THE URBAN DAY-TO-NIGHT ENERGY OF THE WING

• A VIBRANT CITY STREET DEFINED BY ART AND LIGHT SURFACES

• THREE-DIMENSIONAL LOOPS THROUGH THE PARK AND NEIGHBORHOODS VIA BRIDGES AND TRAILS

• A CIVIC LINK OF INTERNATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE

PROJECTS

ZONE ENLARGEMENT MAP

Park Boundary

ZONE V: CENTRAL Projects List

Zone V defines the central area of the park around the Carter Presidential Center at the boundaries of several neighborhoods. The driving ideas for the potential of park spaces in Zone V include the following:

PROJECTS

• A 1-MILE BIKE/PEDESTRIAN “HEALTH LOOP” AROUND CARTER PRESIDENTIAL CENTER CAMPUS WITH SAFE CONNECTIONS TO THE INTERIOR OF CPC AND RADIATING NEW CONNECTIONS TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS

• MAKE THE IMPLIED CENTER THE TRUE EXPERIENTIAL CENTER OF THE PARK

• RAISE NATIONAL PROFILE OF THE PARK THROUGH THIS CENTER SPACE

ZONE VI: PARK-WIDE Projects List

The potential projects summarized below either apply to the park organization as a whole or can be developed in multiple locations within the parks’ geography independent of site-specific projects and project bundles.

PROJECTS

ZONE PROJECT MAP

Park Boundary

MASTER PLAN PROJECTS PRIORITIZATION

Prioritization Criteria and Methodology

The long-term success of Freedom Park will in large part be defined by the prioritization of projects and their realization in support of the identified Goals for the master plan. In order to clarify the role and potential benefit associated with each of the seventy-four projects identified within the master plan, five basic criteria have been established as a basis for prioritization:

The priority of projects within the master plan reflect a combination of their identified Prioritization Criteria in conjunction with both geographic and narrative considerations. On this basis, seven Signature Projects have been identified that move Freedom Park towards achieving the seven Goals identified within the master plan. In order to assist in developing interest and coordinate design efforts of interrelated projects, each Signature Project consists of a series of aligned projects that are to be studied, planned, fundraised for and potentially implemented as a singular effort.

PROJECT PRIORITIZATION CRITERIA

1. CATALYTIC

Catalytic projects provide immediate improvements while elevating the park profile in alignment with the goals of the master plan. In turn, these projects will likewise help increase fund-raising opportunities for future projects though establishment of a strong and coherent identity for the park that is relevant on both a city, national and potentially international level.

2. OPPORTUNISTIC

Opportunistic projects can be prioritized to take advantage of existing partnerships and/or interest from outside groups that may support fund-raising or implementation efforts. Likewise, some Opportunistic projects are comparatively low-cost while offering significant Catalytic benefit to the park in alignment with the Goals of the master plan.

3. CONTRIBUTING TO PUBLIC SAFETY

Public Safety Projects provide benefit through improvements that address the safety, security and well-being of park users. Typically, these projects address key conflict points between vehicular traffic and pedestrian/ bike facilities, as well as overall project legibility.

4. BIG IDEAS THAT REQUIRE FURTHER STUDY

Big Idea Projects that Require Further Study offer potential for new-realities within the park, but with complexities that necessitate supplemental analysis and/or community input. Given the potential beneficial impact of these projects and the timeline associated with required design investigations, the master plan recommendations prioritize analysis of these projects to ensure alignment with related projects affected by their outcome. Likewise, many of these projects will benefit from and/or require galvanized support from aligned government agencies and the general public.

5.PUBLIC PRIORITY

Public Priority projects reflect the interest of the local community as identified through the on-line survey and on-going community review process.

PROJECT PRIORITIZATION METHODOLOGY

SIGNATURE PROJECTS:

1.TRIBUTE TO JOHN LEWIS

This project celebrates the legacy of Congressman John Lewis through the development of commemorative planting enhancements along Congressman John Lewis Freedom Parkway and the redevelopment of John Lewis Plaza and Lake Lewis. The project leverages identified partnerships with both Georgia Department of Transportation and Trees Atlanta for roadway planting improvements, as well as the national interest in the legacy of Congressman Lewis.

Identified Master Plan Sub-Projects:

1.1 John Lewis Plaza 1.3 Nor th Avenue Gateway 1.7 Lake Lewis 1.8 Habitat Buffer 4.10 John Lewis Median Garden 6.1 John Lewis Flowering Forest Tribute

2.PEACE CIRCUIT

The Peace Circuit establishes a legible trail loop with prioritized pedestrian and bike facilities within the heart of Freedom Park. The loop will provide legibility for navigation and create a highly visible, active public health infrastructural program element for the par. Additional connection points to the Atlanta Beltline will likewise provide new opportunities for comprehensive regional mobility and enhance city-wide offerings for park and recreation. Connectivity to the Carter Presidential Center will likewise be enhanced, generating desired foot-traffic to the Center while strengthening the symbiotic relationship between both public amenities. The plan envisions the decommissioning of the southern leg of Freedom Parkway, moving east-bound traffic along a redeveloped two-day road along the northern border of the Carter Presidential Center. The realignment of the existing roadways opens valuable public land for the park and significantly reduces existing vehicular/pedestrian conflicts within the park. Likewise, enhanced connectivity to the Carter Presidential Center will be developed through re-defined south gateway points as well as a north pedestrian bridge providing safe access over Freedom Parkway.

MASTER PLAN PROJECTS PRIORITIZATION

Prioritization Methodology

Identified Master Plan Sub-Projects:

5.4 Ralph McGill Gateway

5.5 Pedestrian Bridge to Carter Presidential Center

5.6 Beltline Nor th Gateway

5.10 Peace Circuit North

5.12 Peace Circuit South

5.13 Nor th Highland Gateway

5.14 Peace Circuit Safety Crossings

5.16 Peace Circuit West

3.FREEDOM COMMONS

The development of Freedom Commons establishes a legible loop trail and enhanced connectivity associated with the iconic landscape characterized in this bucolic setting. This public commons provides an identifiable destination point along the park’s eastern reach to support picnics, art programs, a walking loop and related passive uses. Pedestrian and bike crossings the buys Moreland intersection are enhanced by improvements to at-grade crossing points as well as associated plaza spaces at associated crossing points. The plaza will form a branded gateway for the park and key wayfinding point for users. Potential development of a pedestrian bridge over Moreland will likewise be studied to determine feasibility and compatibility with neighborhood character. If developed, this bridge would further enhance safe connections for both regional trail users as well a children utilizing the trails for connectivity to Mary Lin Elementary School.

Identified Master Plan Sub-Projects:

2.4 Moreland Crossing and Plaza

2.5 Freedom Commons Art Loop

2.6 Moreland Bridge

4.FREEDOM PARK WEST

Freedom Park West project leverages iconic neighborhood assets to develop opportunistic, branded placemaking improvements to the parks western-most reach. This signature project incorporates planned City improvements to the iconic Jackson Street bridge with the development of King Square, offering enhanced connectivity to the King Center, multi-use public event infrastructure and park wayfinding infrastructure. In conjunction, the project likewise studies the potential redevelopment of the Boulevard / John Lewis Freedom Parkway intersection with the goal of establishing a formal western gateway to the park. Pedestrian and bike improvements to this area will likewise increase public safety while providing increase connectivity between adjacent residential, mixed-use and the Barkway Dog Park.

Identified Master Plan Sub-Projects:

4.1 Jackson Street Overlook

4.2 Boulevard Gateway

4.3 King Square

4.4 Freedom Park West Gateway

4.7 Barkway Art Corner

5.MARTA GATEWAY

The MARTA Gateway establishes a regional connection point to Freedom Park by formalizing and enhancing the parks connectivity with the existing Inman Park MARTA rail station. In partnership with MARTA, this project seeks to make modifications to the existing parking and bus facilities to improve pedestrian safety and elevate the experience of visitors entering the park through associated beautification. Freedom Park branding, identity and legibility can be enhanced through the development of art and interpretive program components highlighting the park’s unique and rich history.

Identified Master Plan Sub-Projects:

3.4 MARTA Parking Grove

3.9 Dekalb Avenue Gateway

3.10 Reynoldstown Gateway

6.FREEDOM PARK DISTRICT

The Freedom Park District project seeks to develop strong connections between adjacent neighborhood cultural assets, commercial establishments and open space to establish a legible park district that elevates the identity of neighborhoods while enhancing offerings to park users. The establishment of the park district will be constructed through partnerships with adjacent businesses, community and park groups by developing legible ‘loops’ through each of the adjoining neighborhoods. These loops may take the form of wayfinding signage, graphics and/or digital apps that highlight cultural narratives, historic information, retail and related destinations within walking distance of the park.

Identified Master Plan Sub-Projects:

6.3 Neighborhood Gateways 6.4 Neighborhood Loops 6.5 Interpretive Program

7.FREEDOM PARK ART PROGRAM

The Freedom Park Art Program seeks to position the park as not only Atlanta’s premier art park, but also a destination worthy of both national and international attention. The project will establish a curatorial framework for the development of art programs within that park that leverage broader narratives in alignment with the Goals of the master plan. Associated, opportunistic programming associated with near-term planned city art installations and potential interventions with the highly-visible park ‘Ice Bridge’ will help generate interested in the program to catalyze future investment and strengthen the overall identify of the park.

Identified Master Plan Sub-Projects:

5.7 Ice Br idge Art Folly

6.2 Ar t Program

MASTER PROJECTS PRIORITIZATION

Prioritization Matrix 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 3.10 3.11

John Lewis Plaza Ravine Trail (Ponce de Leon) North Ave. Gateway Ravine Trail (North to R. McGill) Urban Food Garden Poncey Meadows Lake Lewis Habitat Buffer Playscape Buffer North Ave. Playscape

Freedom Passage North Ave. Pocket Park North Ave. Gardens Moreland Crossing and Plaza Freedom Commons Art Loop Moreland Bridge Druid Place Gateway Ponce De Leon Gateway Fairview Crossing Connection Meadow Room Goldsboro Roller Rink Node Rain Room Moon Forest Room Highland Room Druid Hills Bridge Gallery Druid Hills Gateway Classrooms on the Creek Stream Restoration Mary Lin Gateway

Euclid Gateway Poplar Circle Inman Art Knoll

MARTA Parking Grove N. Highland Art Lawn Inman Arboreal Gallery Inman Garden Walk Treehouse Village Playground Dekalb Ave. Gateway Reynoldstown Gateway Austin Art Corner

Jackson St. Overlook Boulevard Gateway King Square Freedom Park West Gateway Randolph Belvedere 54 Columns Site Improvements Barkway Art Corner Mills Garden Plaza Fourth Ward Concourse John Lewis Median Garden

ZONE V: VI:

R. McGill Gateway Ped. Bridge to Carter Center Beltline North Connection North Handshake Plaza

Fourth Ward N. Beltline Connection Ice Bridge Art Folly Fourth Ward S. Beltline Connection South Handshake Plaza Inman Village Gateway Peace Circuit North N. Highland Gateway Peace Circuit South N. Highland Gateway Peace Circuit Safety Crossings Copenhill Terrace Peace Circuit West

John Lewis Flowering Forest Tribute Art Program Neighborhood Gateways Neighborhood Loops Interpretive Program Maintenance Program Feasibility Studies

LEGAL STATUS OF THE PARK LAND Clarification on the Boundaries

A long-range approach to the planning of Freedom Park necessitates a few measures that should become the first step in making commitments to future improvements recommended in the master plan.

1. PARK BOUNDARIES/99 YEAR LEASE

Due to its restrictive legal status as a 99-year lease by the city of the land that still belongs to GDOT, the control over the park parcels is unclear. Over the years, the boundaries of the park have changed from the original lease alignment and can potentially keep changing due to various encroachments from adjacent development. The legal description of the park needs to be solidified in a map and verbal form to protect it from future encroachment. With the park being well underway into the first third of the 99-year-lease term, the city’s intent on maintaining control of the park past the expiration date of the lease needs to be expressed and recorded to establish future stability for the park and jurisdictional authority over the park by the city.

Park boundaries as identified during the course of the master planning process in 2020-2021

LEGAL STATUS OF THE PARK LAND

Clarification on the “Passive Park” Designation “PASSIVE PARK” DESIGNATION

A long-range approach to the planning of Freedom Park necessitates a few measures that should become the first step in making commitments to future improvements recommended in the master plan.

“Passive” designation of Freedom Park has been historically applied based on what is defined as “passive” activities ranging between the city and the state. As Freedom Park Conservancy embarks on realization of master plan recommendations that require additional operations and maintenance, new revenue sources would be required to augment standard city practices in supporting the park. Fees, possible donor or fundraising events, and their potential to provide an ongoing source of funds for park improvement and maintenance may be compromised by the “passive”designation, somewhat restrictive in that regard. Current definitions will be adhered to despite these implications; however, formulating a definition of acceptable park activities and programmatic activities consistent with historic agreements and acceptable to all parties is a required step to developing future programmatic opportunities.

Where does the passive designation come from and how is “passive” defined?

From the 1998 Lease of the Freedom Park land from the Georgia Department of Transportation to the City of Atlanta:

T he lease notes that Freedom Parks is dedicated “for use as a roadside park”.

It fur ther states that the “lessee shall use the premises solely for the purpose of picnicking, hiking, biking, nature, study, viewing and enjoying historical or scenic sites and such other purposes as are consistent with the use of the premises as a roadside park, and shall allow the public use of the park, it being the intention of the parties that the premises shall be used for a “recreational purpose” as defined in O.C.G.A. § 51-3-21 (4).” o O.C.G.A. § 51-3-21 (4) states: ““Recreational purpose” includes, but is not limited to, any of the following or any combination thereof: hunting, fishing, swimming, boating, camping, picnicking, hiking, pleasure driving, nature study, water skiing, winter sports, and viewing or enjoying historical, archaeological, scenic, or scientific sites.”

Additionally, it states that the “lessee shall not construct or allow to be constructed any buildings or parts of buildings, parking decks or parts of parking decks, or similar facilities”.

How is the “passive” nature of the park further defined by the Department of Parks and Recreation?

From a City of Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) standpoint, the “passive” designation takes on an additional meaning as it relates to events.

- In keeping with the use outlined in the lease, festivals and large gatherings are prohibited within Freedom Park. A large gathering is an outdoor event on public property that lasts for more than one hour, has more than 75 attendees; this restriction is managed through the DPR events permitting process.

- Moving events are not restricted in a similar manner. DPR does allow moving events, such as organized walks and marches, to go through Freedom Park.

- Events restrictions apply to the land within Freedom Park itself, however events are not prohibited in the same manner on the streets surrounding/within the park (should those roads apply for closure to host events)

- Activities within the park are limited to the opening hours of the park, which are 6 am to 11 pm.

How is the “passive” nature of the park further defined by Special Public Interest Districts (SPIs)?

SPI 5 Inman Park Special Interest District, SPI-7 Candler Park District:

- There shall be no buildings in the park.

- No motorized vehicular use shall be permitted in the park. There shall be no facilities of any kind for motorized vehicles in the park, except that motorized wheel chairs or other similar, small motorized vehicles designed for use by handicapped persons, when so used, shall be permitted in the park.

- Passive use shall be encouraged, with no formal recreation, entertainment, or assembly

SPI-6 Poncey-Highland District:

- Prohibited uses: Commercial recreational establishments, including theaters, convention halls, places of assembly and similar uses, with primary activities conducted within fully enclosed buildings, eating and drinking establishments, temporary commercial activities, shelter.

- Permitted by special administrative permit: Farmer’s market

- Permitted principal use: Urban gardens, market gardens

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Conservancy

Atlanta’s Freedom Park Master Plan

MAINTENANCE Planning Components

Maintenance is a critical yet historically overlooked and underfunded consideration within Freedom Park. The park’s long-term success hinges on the ability of the City, the Conservancy, and its partners to provide ongoing maintenance to the park’s landscapes, circulation systems, safety networks, and related infrastructure. As funding sources and implementation plans are pursued for future park projects and programs, appropriate maintenance costs shall be integrated into the funding and management plan for each effort. The Conservancy’s goal will be to work towards establishing an ongoing maintenance fund dedicated to the long-term stewardship of the park.

Prioritization of maintenance protocols for the park should focus on the following key standards and practices:

1. Landscape Maintenance:

a. Develop design strategies for net reduction in maintenance requirements

b. Prioritizing preservation and protection of existing natural assets

c. Develop strategies with adjacent property owners for maintenance of landscape buffers.

d. Prioritize removal of invasive species

e. Utilize centralized, smart irrigation control systems

f. Develop maintenance programs for typological landscape zones:

Forest Zones:

• Non-natives and invasive plants removed by hand or killed with highly controlled weed wick (no spraying allowed), native volunteer species are acceptable and should generally be retained.

• Climbing vine removal and suppression

• Fertilized and composted only for grow-in period for up to two years,

• Systematic tree pruning and dead-wooding on bi-annual basis,

• Temporary irrigation for grow-in period for up to two years.

Woodland Zones:

• Non-natives and invasive plants removed by hand or killed with highly controlled weed wick (no spraying allowed), native volunteer species are acceptable and should generally be retained.

• Fertilized annually with organic fertilizers, and compost,

• Bare ground covered with shredded hardwood mulch on an as-needed basis,

• Systematic tree pruning and dead-wooding on bi-annual basis,

• Climbing vine removal and suppression

• Temporary irrigation for grow-in period for up to two years.

Grassland Zones:

• Native grasses/wildflower seed mix, managed for maximum foliage and seed production,

• Non-natives and invasive plants removed by hand or killed with highly controlled weed wick (no spraying allowed)

• Fertilized annually with organic fertilizers, and compost,

• Mowed once every year to control woody volunteer plants,

• Mowing of street curb edges and trail edges with a 36” wide strip

• Irrigation for tree establishment and grow-in period for up to two years.

MAINTENANCE-RELATED STRATEGIES:

E.2 G.2

Garden Zones:

• Managed for highest level of display quality;

• Non-natives and invasive plants removed by hand or killed with highly controlled weed wick (no spraying allowed)

• Fertilized twice a year with organic fertilizers and micronutrients

• Full automatic irrigation utilizing spray heads and drip irrigation where feasible.

Landscape Ponds:

• Hand removal and weed wicking of unwanted volunteers.

• Recirculation and aeration pumps and equipment will need monthly inspection and annual full maintenance,

• Ponds may require occasional de-watering and de-silting; monitor overall water quality and aquatic health.

Buffer Landscape Zones:

Buffer landscapes adjacent to private property throughout the park are comprised of unique conditions that require site-specific maintenance protocols to meet performative requirements addressing privacy, security and ecological enhancement. Buffer landscapes should feel natural and cohesive in character, forming the backdrop for activity zones within the park.

• Ecology:

Remove all non-native, invasive plant species within buffer zones to promote habitat landscapes and identified ‘edible landscape’ plants. Coordinate maintenance with park ecology stewards and related groups. Minimize watering as required to promote native plant material. Where appropriate, allow for fallen trees, leaf litter and related natural bio-regenerative site conditions to remain to supplement habitat potential. Preserve overstory through removal of vines and selective pruning for light infiltration to understory.

• Security:

Within deeper buffer zones (15’+), maintain middle-story plants to preserve visibility up to the property line to limit locations for encampments or other uses. Maintain middle story vegetation at pedestrian gateway points into the park to provide visibility to pathways, adequate lighting and avoidance of blind corners.

• Privacy:

Where adjacent private property abuts the park, maintain vegetative screen through preservation of existing plant material. Native evergreen middle and understory vegetation that provide visual screening should be prioritized within 15’ of the property line. Work with neighboring property owners to clarify issues, concerns and maintenance practices to facilitate positive relationship with park and adjacent activity zones.

2. Hardscape Maintenance

The design and selection of hardscape materials should be determined based on levels of expected use, durability, availability and potential accommodation of vehicular access as required. Site furnishings and lighting standards should likewise be selected with consideration for future development and availability for replacement as required. Playgrounds should incorporate monthly maintenance inspections with consideration of safe fall surfaces and integrity of equipment.

3. Maintenance Planning

An overall park maintenance plan and budget should be developed for the park. Inclusive with this plan, a comprehensive maintenance access plan should be developed for each phase of development to guide design considerations and monitor impacts to park maintenance budget. Potential storage and maintenance facilities within or outside the park should likewise be considered to facility maintenance programs. Maintenance partnerships with allied institutions, agencies and related organizations should likewise be formalized to ensure adequate coverage, offset costs and reduce potential overlap.

MAINTENANCE MAP

LEGEND

DEFINING GATEWAYS AND EDGES SITES AND STRUCTURES HIGHLIGHTED IN THE DIAGRAM HIGHLIGHT KEY GATEWAYS, INTERSECTIONS, AND EDGES TO BE ENHANCED AND DEFINED.

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Conservancy

Atlanta’s Freedom Park Master Plan