VISIONING A NEW PARK ON
LOWER PAUL AVE
Vision Plan
The conceptual plan shown above depicts an aspiration for future park development along Lower Paul Avenue based on community feedback, site conditions, accepted industry best practices, and municipal standards.
It is important to note that a vision plan is not a promise, nor a mandate. It is meant to be a community tool for fundraising and advocacy for phased development of the park.
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This plan includes projects, including:
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Playground
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Community pavilion
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Lighting
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Multiuse path
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Stairway connection to Bernard
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Sidewalks and walkways
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Traffic calming on Paul Ave
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Sports courts
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Parking
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Restrooms
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Flood mitigation and restoration
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Art
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Note about off-leash dog park:
Although a majority of residents expressed support for an off-leash dog park at this location, Park Pride was unable to find enough contiguous space within the park boundary to meet the minimum size requirements for this kind of amenity. Existing site encumbrances, including the pump station and stream buffers, as well as the topography and linear arrangement of the park make this a challenging location for a dog park, which requires at least an acre of land. Park Pride recommends pursuing a community dog park at an alternate site in the area.
To view the vision plan in more detail, simply click the image above to download a pdf version. Note that you will need Adobe Reader to view the concepts. Because the file is large, we highly recommend you use a laptop or tablet to view it!
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Guiding Principles
The vision plan is built around the following four guiding principles, arrived at through community input.
Create a safe and welcoming space that will foster community spirit and serve as a venue for neighborhood and casual gatherings while preserving the natural beauty of the site
Restore the local environment and connect visitors to the unique ecology, culture, and history of the Chattahoochee River
Prioritize trail connections and well-marked entrances to provide safe access and connectivity for residents and visitors
Design a beautiful and resilient space that can withstand the rigors of both the human and natural environment
Why Park Visioning?
Parks are good for people, good for the environment, and good for communities! Parks are treasured neighborhood amenities where children can play safely, friendships start, and memories are formed. Parks are all about community, and that's why community leadership and involvement is so important when designing new parks.
Park Visioning is a program of Park Pride, a nonprofit organization working with communities all over Atlanta to improve their parks. Park Pride puts community at the center of the conversation and helps build a shared vision for a park based on the ideas and concerns of the whole community. Through neighborhood meetings, surveys, and engagement, Park Pride's professional park designers will be working closely with Riverside residents this spring to produce a plan that will help guide future investments in this new neighborhood park.
In 2021, Atlanta City Council authorized the City of Atlanta to purchase land from The Conservation Fund for a new park along Lower Paul Avenue. That land will soon become Riverside's newest public park!
Part of the City's vision
​This park is part of a regional strategic effort, called Chattahoochee Riverlands, which aims to connect communities all along the Chattahoochee River from the Buford Dam to Chattahoochee Bend State Park in northwest Coweta County.
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The City of Atlanta Department of Parks & Recreation & Department of City Planning have also set the intention of protecting more land along the Chattahoochee River for future generations as shown in the Atlanta City Design.
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The park visioning process will build on planning work already done and will result in a conceptual plan of the park, including recommendations for trail connectivity and other major park features.
Where is the Park?
Several parcels along Lower Paul Avenue comprise the bulk of the new park, which is approximately nine acres in size. The park is set amid several utility easements and is flanked by both single family residential and industrial uses. This new park will also be a gateway to the Chattahoochee River.
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Click on the image below to see the boundaries of the new park and its immediate surroundings. Note that you will need Adobe Reader to view the map!
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Many residents are already familiar with the hiking trails that have been created in this area through steadfast volunteer efforts led by Riverwalk Atlanta. Over the last five years, these devoted individuals have cleared over 7.7 acres of invasive plants along the river. You can join them the first Saturday of every month to help!
Watch the First Meeting
If you missed the first public meeting on February 10, we've got you covered! You can watch it here to learn our thoughts on context, history, challenges, and opportunities onsite. You can also see how your neighbors responded to live polling.
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If you prefer, you can download a PDF file of the slideshow by clicking the button below.
Catch up on the Second Meeting
If you missed the second public meeting on March 10, you can download a PDF file of the slideshow by clicking the button below.
Catch up on the Third Meeting
If you missed the second public meeting on April 30, we've compiled a video of the event. Enjoy!