The Neighborhood Westside Park Revealed

New renderings offer glimpse of former Bellwood Quarry site

By Collin Kelley

The City of Atlanta has unveiled new renderings of Westside Park at Bellwood Quarry, which is set to become the city’s largest greenspace.

Former mayor Kasim Reed called the park “another stake in the ground for equity, fairness and balance” in the city during an unveiling ceremony just before he left office. “The space is going to be as special as any place in the city.”

The 280-acre park just west of Downtown will be the largest in the city, while the old granite quarry will become a 2 billion gallon reservoir. The park will also connect to the Atlanta BeltLine.

Phase one will include a notable gateway entrance at the intersection of Johnson Road and Grove Park Place on the north side of the park. The gateway design will provide lighting, signage and visually appealing graphics. The restoration of Grove Park Place will include resurfacing of the roadway and the rehabilitation and enhancement of greenery along the corridor.

The park will also include a grand overlook area to maximize views of the quarryturned-reservoir as well as panoramic views of the Atlanta skyline. Visitors will be able to experience the quarry using ADA-accessible trails leading to the grand overlook. Phase one of the $26.5 million project will also include trails designed to enhance public experience and provide a pedestrian connection to and from the Proctor Creek Greenway.

“The Department of Parks and Recreation is proud and excited to announce the plans for the future Westside Park at Bellwood Quarry. Since being appointed as Department of Parks and Recreation Commissioner in 2015, it has been an honor and privilege to work with the Mayor to increase access to greenspace for Atlanta residents. I thank him for his vision and his commitment,” said Department of Parks and Recreation Commissioner Amy Phuong.

‘Crown Jewel’

Piedmont Park set to grow in 3.5-acre expansion

Piedmont Park will grow by 3.5 acres in a $100 million expansion plan announced by former mayor Kasim Reed before he left office last month.

The city signed letters of intent to purchase the property located at the corner of Piedmont Road and Monroe Drive for the expansion. Calling Piedmont the city’s “crown jewel,” Reed said the “one-in-a-generation opportunity” to purchase the property will create a new gateway to the park.

The city will contribute $20 million to the initial acquisition. Carol Tomé, CFO of The Home Depot and a member of the Atlanta Committee for Progress, has volunteered to lead the philanthropic effort raise up to $80 million in private funds to acquire all the remaining property and fund the park design and construction.

An anonymous philanthropist contributed $2 million to support the initial $20 million acquisition, according to city officials. In addition to the gift, the city will leverage various sources, including but not limited to Park Impact Fees, TSPLOST funds and watershed funds to make the acquisition. The city will also take on the current leases and utilize the net operating income generated from those leases.

As the city moves forward with this project, the Department of Parks and Recreation will host a community engagement process to incorporate public feedback in the park design. The expansion project will include a connection to the Atlanta BeltLine, improved pedestrian trails, additional open greenspace and forested land.

The current 189-acre Piedmont Park was created in 1895 after it was the site of two expositions designed to showcase the prosperity of the city after the Civil War.

Collin Kelley