Atlanta Beltline Breaks Ground on Transformative 8-Acre Enota Park Expansion on Earth Day

Reimagined Westview green space will expand pocket park into 8-acre recreational destination, fulfilling vision nearly two decades in the making

ATLANTA, April 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, Atlanta Beltline, Inc. President and CEO Clyde Higgs, state officials, and other community leaders broke ground today on the expansion of Enota Park, which will be a dramatic transformation of the existing 0.3-acre playlot into an 8-acre recreational destination. This community-driven project will serve as a gateway to the historic Westview neighborhood and connect to the West End along the Atlanta Beltline Westside and Southwest Trails.

First envisioned in the Trust for Public Land's 2004 Beltline Emerald Necklace Study as a vital green space within Atlanta's evolving urban landscape, the expanded park represents a significant milestone for the community that has anticipated this development for nearly two decades.

The expanded park will feature three distinct areas. The upper area will have a spacious lawn fronting a performance pavilion and a boardwalk through the existing canopy with scenic overlooks. The middle area will create a pedestrian connection from Enota Place to the Beltline, and the lower parcel will serve as the park's recreational heart. Park amenities will include:

• A seating area sheltered by an innovative solar photovoltaic structure
• A lawn for community gatherings and recreation
• A modern splash pad and play area
• A half-court basketball court
• Separate facilities for bathrooms and utilities

"For decades, the Westview community has lacked a place for kids to play, families to gather and neighbors to connect with one another in the way that's going to happen when we complete this project," said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. "The Beltline is a crucial part of how we connect our communities and enhance the quality of life for Atlanta residents,  linking people to opportunity and safe, green, multimodal spaces. And we are doing it sustainably here on Earth Day."

Enota Park is scheduled for completion in Spring 2026.

The groundbreaking, deliberately scheduled on Earth Day 2025, highlights the project's strong environmental focus, particularly the restoration of Proctor Creek, which flows through Enota Park. The revitalization of this natural waterway represents a significant step in improving water quality and ecological health in the area.

"Enota Park is another significant milestone in the Beltline's commitment to creating world-class green spaces for Atlantans, and the park's direct connection to the Westside Trail positions it as another gem in the Beltline Emerald Necklace of parks around the city," said Clyde Higgs, President and CEO of Atlanta Beltline, Inc. "This expansion transforms a small park into acres of recreational space that will also serve as an inviting gateway to the Westview neighborhood. As we celebrate Earth Day, we're particularly proud of the environmental stewardship embedded in this project, from creek restoration to sustainable stormwater management."

The journey to the groundbreaking began in 2007 and 2009, when the Trust for Public Land acquired six properties totaling 3.8 acres, laying the groundwork for the park's expansion. The City of Atlanta adopted ordinances to secure additional land for the park's development, facilitating the creation of Enota Park. In 2018, the firm POND was selected to lead the park's design and planning efforts, completing designs while funding was secured through various partners.

"Westview has always been a community of strength, resilience, and unity," said Dion Stanford, Westview resident. "As we embrace new changes and welcome Enota Park, we are not just adding a park—we are investing in the heart and soul of our neighborhood. This park represents more than just land; it represents the next chapter of Westview, a place where the next generation can create memories, just as I did growing up here."

The transformation is funded through the Atlanta Beltline Tax Allocation District (supported by Atlanta Public Schools, Fulton County, and the City of Atlanta), the Governor's Office of Planning and Budget's Improving Neighborhood Outcomes program, the City of Atlanta's Moving Atlanta Forward infrastructure bond, and philanthropic support from corporate and foundation partners.

"The expansion of Enota Park demonstrates our commitment to investing in Georgia's communities and improving quality of life for hardworking Georgians," said Trey Bennett, Grants Division Director with the Governor's Office of Planning and Budget. "Through our Improving Neighborhood Outcomes initiative, we're proud to partner with Atlanta Beltline to create spaces where families can gather, children can play, and communities can thrive. This project will serve as a catalyst for economic growth while preserving neighborhood character - exactly the kind of strategic investment that keeps Georgia the best state to live, work, and raise a family."

The project has also garnered philanthropic support from nearly 20 donors led by The Coca-Cola Foundation, A Friend of the Atlanta Beltline, Georgia Power Company, Truist Trusteed Foundations: Walter H. and Marjory M. Rich Memorial Fund and the Thomas Guy Woolford Trust, The Fraser-Parker Foundation, and Norfolk Southern through the Atlanta Beltline Partnership's Advancing the Vision campaign. An additional $1.3 million in private funding is needed to fully realize the community's vision for Enota Park.

Other critical project collaborators include Reeves Young (construction), POND (design), Atlanta Regional Commission, City of Atlanta Department of Park and Recreation, City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management, Georgia Department of Transportation, Georgia Power, MARTA, Invest Atlanta, Trees Atlanta, U.S. Department of Transportation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The project incorporates substantial infrastructure improvements, including a vegetated retention basin for sustainable stormwater management, comprehensive lighting and security systems, and extensive landscaping with irrigation systems. All areas will feature high-quality materials, including granite-faced concrete retaining walls and carefully selected site furnishings.

The growing network of connected green spaces adjacent to the Beltline includes Historic Fourth Ward Park, Perkerson Park, Rose Circle Park, Shirley Clarke Franklin Park (formerly Westside Park), Thomas Taylor Memorial Skatepark, Stanton Park, Gordon White Park, D.H. Stanton Park, Boulevard Crossing Park, Piedmont Park, and Arthur Langford, Jr. Park. Adair Park, Piedmont Park, Grant Park, Pittsburgh Yards and Langford Park.

MEDIA ASSETS

• Renderings and pictures from the Enota Park groundbreaking event are available here.
• Map of Enota Park available here.
• For project updates and additional information, visit Enota Park | Beltline.

About Atlanta Beltline, Inc.
Atlanta Beltline, Inc. is the official implementation agency for the Atlanta Beltline. Its vision is to be the catalyst for making Atlanta a global beacon for equitable, inclusive and sustainable city life. As one of the largest, most wide-ranging urban redevelopment programs in the United States, the Atlanta Beltline is building a more socially and economically resilient Atlanta with our partner organizations and host communities through job creation, inclusive transportation systems, affordable housing and public spaces for all. For more information on the Atlanta Beltline, please visit www.beltline.org.

SOURCE Atlanta BeltLine, Inc.