ATLANTA, GA — Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, Atlanta Beltline, Inc. President and CEO Clyde Higgs, elected officials from Fulton County and Atlanta Public Schools, and other community leaders held a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating a major milestone for the Beltline by creating the longest uninterrupted length of trail to date. With the completion of Westside Trail - Segment 4, walkers, runners, and cyclists can now travel 6.7 continuous miles along the Atlanta Beltline, from University Avenue in southwest Atlanta to Huff Road in northwest Atlanta with the completion of Westside Trail - Segment 4.
When construction is finished in 2030, the rail-to-trail infrastructure project will create a 22-mile loop around the city of Atlanta, plus 11 miles of connector trails. This finished trail segment brings the total mainline loop to 12.6 miles of delivered trail, complemented by 10.3 miles of connector trails.
"I grew up here in Atlanta, served on this board as a council member, and now as your mayor. Atlanta is my home. These trails, these homes, these businesses … this is how we build a stronger and more connected city," Dickens said. "Thank you to the Beltline team, our partners, and everyone who's helped make this possible."
The newly constructed trail segment stretches 1.3 miles from the existing Westside Trail terminus at Lena Street north to Law Street, where it connects to the Westside Beltline Connector and Westside Trail - Segment 3. It transforms a fragmented pathway into a corridor that runs along Washington Park, weaving through neighborhoods where streets honor Civil Rights leaders Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Joseph E. Boone, and Joseph Lowery.
"We are celebrating more than an infrastructure project. [This] is a celebration of connecting communities and honoring the rich history that defines our city," Higgs said. "As trail users travel these 6.7 continuous miles, they're moving through neighborhoods born from resilience, built by Black architects and builders, and shaped by generations of community pride. This extension ensures that legacy is honored as we build toward our vision of a complete 22-mile loop in 2030."
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Finishing Segment 4 is the culmination of a two-phase construction approach. Section A, spanning 0.5 miles, opened in fall 2024, while Section B covers the remaining 0.8 miles.
Washington Park holds particular significance as Atlanta's first designated recreational space for African Americans. Created during the segregation era, the park originally featured a swimming pool, dance hall, pavilions, and tennis courts, providing a long-awaited sanctuary for leisure and community gatherings.
The neighborhood surrounding the park emerged from the ashes of the Great Atlanta Fire of 1917, developing into one of Atlanta's first planned Black suburbs under the leadership of Heman E. Perry. Washington Park flourished as an enclave for the city's African American middle class, with homes and institutions crafted by Black architects and builders during an era of systemic barriers.
In a tribute to the historical significance of Washington Park, Higgs, joined by Councilmember Byron Amos and The Conservancy at Historic Washington Park Board Chair Christi Jackson unveiled the park's new historical sign. Positioned at the gateway to the Westside Trail and the adjacent park, the marker commemorates Washington Park's legacy.
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Westside Trail is a 14-foot-wide concrete multi-use path featuring 3-foot soft shoulders on each side, complemented by stainless steel handrails, LED lighting, and security cameras. Green infrastructure manages stormwater while environmental remediation addresses the corridor's industrial past. Ramps and stairs link the trail to adjoining streets, ensuring accessibility for surrounding communities.
Funding for the Beltline comes primarily from public sources through the Beltline Tax Allocation District, supported by Atlanta Public Schools, Fulton County, and the City of Atlanta, along with Beltline Special Service District investors. Lead philanthropic support from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation, Inc., and The James M. Cox Foundation is supporting construction of the full trail corridor.
The project required coordination among numerous partners, including Atlanta Regional Commission, Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation, Atlanta Department of Transportation, Atlanta 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.
Alta led trail design with support from subcontractors Sherwood Design Engineers, Sastry and Associates, Planners for Environmental Quality, TerraMark, United Consulting, Roosevelt Powell and Associates, Palacio Collaborative, Grice Consulting Group, Arborguard Tree Specialists, and Long Engineering. Astra Group served as the construction firm.
