The Atlanta Beltline has been the catalyst for the revitalization of many neighborhoods that provide quick and convenient access to the Beltline. Still undergoing construction in certain areas, the Beltline is the most comprehensive and extensive revitalization effort that the city has ever undergone.
By redeveloping old and abandoned railway corridors in the city, multi-use trails and parks have been constructed in its place and will eventually connect 45 neighborhoods directly to each other. Set to be completed over the next several years, the Beltline will provide 22 miles of pedestrian friendly rail transit, 33 miles of multi-use trails, over 1000 acres of public parks, and numerous art projects that exemplify the area’s history.
But that’s just the (cool) facts. What is more difficult to capture in words is the energy of the Beltline. People are active and happy. Children are learning how to ride bikes, happy dog
s are walked, strangers meet and become friends. Sometimes a group of people play drums and offer free hugs and water (true story).
Commissioned (and some not so commissioned, but no less neat) murals command your attention every couple of miles. A stray cat is given shelter, food, and even receives mail by the Beltline community (also a true story). All this to say that the Beltline is an inspiring story of how the old and neglected remnants of the city’s past can be redesigned into a beloved and happenin’ space.
