atlanta final.docx

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Introduction to landscape planning The Atlanta Beltline Emerald Necklace

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ATLANTA BELTLINE EMERALD

NECKLACE

Reuben Jacob John

CASE STUDY

LSC 6240 Introduction to Landscape planning

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MA in Landscape studies

UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD

DEPARTMENT OF LANDSCAPE

November 2013


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The Atlanta Beltline Emerald Necklace

BELTLINE

EXISTING PARKS

PROPOSED PARKS

MARTA

NEW MARTA STATION

HIGHWAY

KEY

Figure 1 :Atlanta Beltline masterplan


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Inthis essay i am going to explore the aspects of landscape planning based on an ongoing

project called the TheAtlanta Beltline .The Beltline contains key areas called the jewels

which makes up the major chunk of the beltline .Key features and analysis of landscape

planning will be explored in these jewels which will in return enrich me with great ideas of

landscape planning.

Project name. : The Atlanta Beltline, Atlanta

Date designed/planned. : 1999 (Masters thesis)

Construction stage : Ongoing

Size. : 3000 acres

Landscape architect(s). : Ryan Gravel,Kevin .W. Burke,

Consultants. : Atlanta Beltline ,Inc

TheBeltline Emerald Necklace is the largest revitalization programme taken up by the city

of Atlanta to upgrade the city and expand its public realm (Los Angeles Times Articles,

2005). It aims at creating and connecting its public spaces like parks and open spaces to the

neighbourhoods around it. It boasts of creating a necklace around the city with the pearls

being these parks. It sets Atlanta on new heights to plan for future increase in population and

to control sprawl. (Paul, 2000) Sprawl is something every city suffers and it should be

checked and more provisions for sustainable expansion should be provided. Atlanta suffered

from sprawl and traffic congestions. The city provides fewer than 9 acres of parkland per

thousand citizens in contrary to the national average being 16 acres per thousand people. The


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Beltline emerald is aimed at solving all those problems. The whole idea was put forth by

Ryan Gravel a masters student at Georgia Tech University in 1999 for his thesis (Garvin,

2004, p.6).

Atlanta has a great history of rail networks which has led to the concept of the beltline.

During the industrial era most of the goods and raw materials etc where transported on rail.

With the emergence of a good highway system the trucks do the job. The rail routes have thus

been abandoned and dilapidated .In this modern era there are a lot of such routes in Atlanta

and needs a meaningful use. Thus this gave birth to the 23 mile loop transit corridor that runs

through parks and neighbourhoods and important places in Atlanta (Garvin, 2004, p.6).Thus a

lot of trails for tourists can be established. The loop is established so that anyone can reach

the transit on foot or by cycle. By connecting the proposed and existing trails, the 23 mile

trail will provide all its residents jogging cycling and recreational opportunities unparalleled

anywhere in the world. Thus a city that grew on rail networks now visions to become the city

that will expand around the beltline park jewels.

Figure 2: Contininous Beltline for cyclicts and pedestrians


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Landscape planning and Beltline Jewels

According to Erv Zube (19312002) landscape planning is defined as an activity concerned

with reconciling competing land uses while protecting natural processes and significant

cultural and natural resources.

In the 1880s, the Emerald Necklace was the most fully realized example of Olmsteds vision

for how a diverse typology of designed landscapes could make American cities more healthy,

functional, and beautiful. With form following function, Olmsteds elegant solution to a

public health crisis created a park system that continues to this day to provide a respite for

people from all walks of life. (Beveridge, 2013,p.3)

Landscape planning in Atlanta Beltline takes its inspiration from the Beltline park

systems andgreenways planned byFrederick Law Olmsted in the Boston Model. The

planning involves creating new parks, expanding the existing ones and interconnecting them

and the nearby neighbourhoods to the parks as well as eachother. There are 13 jewels that

make up the Beltline Emerald Necklace

The Jewels and its noted features are:-

1. Enota park expansion:It focuses on expanding the park and modifying it from a familypark to a city park. It started with the acquiring of landlocked and unoccupied parcels of

land around the park to create a contiguous park. It involved removal of invasive species

of plants ,providing park trails for public ,preserving existing trees ,stream restoration,

preserving undeveloped wooded area ,installing a community garden , providing lawns

for events, terraced planting near the beltline corridor ,creating playgrounds fields and

finally providing linkage through better and improved transport and pedestrian

facilities(Tunnell-Spangler-Walsh & Associates, 2010).Thus the Enota park expansion
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Park_systemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Park_systemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenway_(landscape)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Law_Olmstedhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Law_Olmstedhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenway_(landscape)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Park_systemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Park_system


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and the related developments will provide a good base for economic development ,help in

connecting neighbourhoods, expand the housing options and promote a sustainable life

style.

2. Maddox park expansion: Thisproject focuses mainly on creating visual access to theinfrastructure rich park. The park open space is created by relocating maintenance and

storage facilities and then its tied up to the Beltline trail on its southern and eastern edges.

Once its connected to the Beltline trail people from other parts of Atlanta will be able use

the facilities like the swimming pools, recreation centre, ball fields, picnic spots etc. A

lot of empty lands between the Maddox Park and the MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta

Rapid Transit Authority) tracks will be used for the park extension. The MARTA riders

will get a better visibility of the park and it would help them easily access it. (Garvin,

2004, p.88)

Thus the Maddox park expansion and related developments will quicken the adaptive

reuse of buildings around it, create flourishing neighbourhoods and mixed developments

around it, help in connecting neighbourhoods, speed up Brownfield remediation of close

by sites and provide a good setting for housing and commercial spaces. (Tunnell-

Spangler-Walsh & Associates, 2010)

3. Ardmore park expansion: The Ardmore park and the Tanyard creek park lay close toeachother .Tanyard has large open fields for ball games and smaller picnic spots .The

Ardmore park is smaller and has playground equipment and is surrounded by tall pine

trees. The Tanyard creek flows through both the parks and passes through a wooded area

called the Tanyard creek urban forest .The tanyard urban forest bought by TPL (The

Trust For Public Land )during the planning stage is readily available for the expansion


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of Ardmore park .Both parks seem to unite and flow into the beltline creating access to all

that use the Beltline .It brings the Bobby Jones Golf Course and Peachtree Creek

accessible to the Beltline .Alexander Garvins report suggests a carefull landscape design

of the park which has now a wooded addition to it. (Garvin, 2004, p.90).

4. Piedmont park expansion:The Piedmont Park includes the North Woods and it expandsto the Beltline which would also include a successful dog park. Community garden that

has access to the CSO Water treatment facility is also included in the expansion. Unlike

other parks the North Woods are heavily contaminated by garbage dumping and other

activities that have security risks and require restoration. The other parts of the park

include a Clear Creek which is very aesthetic and scenic in its topography (Garvin, 2004,

p.92).

Thus the Piedmont park because of the above mentioned reasons would definitely be a

mix of rich experiences that includes scenic vistas , feel of the woods , pet park ,

community garden and the most important the connection to the beltline which connects

all the neighbourhoods .

5. Peachtree Creek Park: A new park with a perfect location between two hills and adriveway which nests on the intersection of the Peachtree Creek and the Clear Creek is

another proposed jewel .Current Challenges include accessibility and topography

Accessibility to be solved by providing two entrances on either sides that are not

interconnected .One entry point is for the highway and the other from the beltline and

neighbourhood (Garvin, 2004, p.94).Peachtree creek park once established will become a

nature park for hiking and related activities with access to the Beltline transit corridor.


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6. Holtzclaw Park:The 1.7 acre neighbourhood park is the smallest proposed gem that ispresently an abandoned lot. The proposed park is small where one can have small

neighbourhood weekend parties unlike the huge trail parks (Garvin, 2004, p.96).

7. North Avenue Park:It is estimated to be 63 acres which is a new proposed jewel in theBeltline .This area is filled with parking spaces, industrial and commercial

establishments .Generating a green space from the wastelands around can be a good

sustainable move and a good potential destiny to the adjacent properties (Garvin, 2004,

p.98).

8. Waterworks Park:Like how the project is inspired from Frederick Law Olmsted ,theconcept of the Brookline Reservoir park in suburban Boson is what inspires a park in

Atlanta Waterworks .The Reservoir is on a highland between Central Atlanta and

Chattahoochee River. It has a summer pavilion on the hill overlooking the reservoir and

this spot is now restricted entry with no pavilion but the base intact. The park proposal is

to reclaim this land and reinvent the history of the Waterworks reservoir while preventing

sabotage .The surrounding can then be used as a big park and in the future the basins can

turn into 2 wonderful lakes fur public use. Derelict land and nearby unused buildings can

be redeveloped and reused for commercial and residential purposes (Garvin, 2004,

p.100).

9. Hulsey Yard: CSX Intermodal Hulsey YARD facility is something that is planned to berelocated due to the problems created by it on 24 hours noise from trailers etc and Traffic

blocks .The 87 acre land available from this is proposed to be a neighbourhood park,

Beltline MARTA station, a transit station and a 40 acre park which will be accessible to


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the communities nearby .The park can be used by transit riders, communities close by and

recreational users of the Beltline Trail. (Garvin, 2004, p.102).

10.Boulevard Crossing: Itan existing gemthat has the industrial post industrial landscape.The Boulevard crossing without much expenditure is proposed to be a big green space

and recreational development. The crossing is two axis meeting at a point which is a

mixed use development. One axis will be along the Beltline .The axis contains of a lot of

private and public undeveloped spaces which becomes an opportunity for a rich

development .Large patches of land are purchased to accommodate a community park

.PATH foundation trail is proposed in the axial opportunities of the Intrenchment Creek

and the Georgia Power right of way (Garvin, 2004, p.106) .

11.Murphy Crossing:An extensive development that would demolish vacant warehousesand remove the scraps around which includes automobile bodies etc. This Jewel requires

clear planning not an incremental one ..The Murphy crossing should be connected to the

Interstate Highway System and a new Beltline Transit station should be established. The

beltline should be then connected to the airport .This will promote the transit oriented

development throughout the city around which a new community will grow. This will

lead to a successful community (Garvin, 2004, p.110).

12.Simpson road: This is another jewel which has substandard houses and facilities.Theplan for Murphy crossing is to develop lands for relocation of people before demolishing

the substandard houses. A good Beltline transit station under Murphy crossing is

proposed .Above the station a new square or open space will be established around which


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a new infrastructure rich modern community and a park will be developed .There would

be neighbourhood retail facilities in the square. (Garvin, 2004, p.114).

13.Bellwood Lake:An old quarry is proposed to be converted to a new park and lake whichwould enrich the ecology and give a new meaning and quality to the lands nearby. This

unused spoilt land will become an iconic spot for people to come and enjoy their leisure

time .As the value of surroundings increase, the citys tax base increases .This jewel is

one of the most ambitious projects in the Beltline as a new scenery would catch people

from all over Atlanta . (Garvin, 2004, p.116).

Figure 2 :Old quarry to be turned to a lake park

Conclusion:

The City is on the right track when it has:-


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1. Good connectivity:Beltline transit corridor with cycling tracks and pedestrian waysconnect almost all the neighbourhoods encouraging public facilities for in city travel

.Bus stops and MARTA connections can be used for long distances .Private transport

can access to the highway for long distance trips

2. Good Social interaction:Provisions are made across the city for human interaction.A resident on Atlanta Beltline blog Walk on the beltline brightens up ones day

since there is a lot of new people we meet and everyone greets eachother a good day

or so proving this to be a healthy start

3. Recreational Facilities: The city has enhanced its recreational opportunities byexpanding old parks ,introducing new parks ,creek and woodland trails ,connecting

famous spots in Atlanta to the Beltline corridor and the new infrastructure for health

and recreation

4. Health and Safety: The Beltline transit corridor in itself is a greenway filled withtrees, plants and open spaces lighted throughout the day. Streets are well connected

and used throughout the day .Thus itssecure and safe. Relocation of Industries will

decrease pollution

5. Vistas:-Greenways, Parks, Adaptive reuse of derelict lands and buildings andrelocation of industries and warehouses has helped in creating a good street frontage

throughout the city. The greatest example is the conversion of a quarry into Bellwood

lake and park

6. Sprawl and Traffic: The Beltline will contain sprawl and give the city a prperstructure for development .Relocation of industries etc reduces truck and container

traffic. Beltline focuses to reduce traffic by promoting use of the Beltline transit

corridor and MARTA lines.


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7. Economy:Though the project will cost a lot, it will pay back in the form of increasedtaxes because many more people will occupy the neighbourhoods, increased tourist

activity .It will reduce crime and property loss and reduce the fuel intake of the city

while reducing incity traffic.

8. Ecology:Along with recreation its the ecological conditions and creation of a livespace and habitats that attract people to the parks and promote neighbourhoods around

it. The beltline stands on a good ground with improvement in its ecology

Apart from the limitations of time frame which depends on the expiry of industry and land

leases, the availability of funds and challenges like promoting people to use the beltline ,the

revitalization programme is one of the greatest landscape planning successes where a city

rediscovers itself on the tracks of one of the greatest American landscape planner Frederick

Law Olmstedreliving its dreams to be the best example of a planned city.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Law_Olmstedhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Law_Olmstedhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Law_Olmstedhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Law_Olmstedhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Law_Olmsted


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REFERENCE LIST

Beveridge, C. 2013. Volume 8: The Early Boston Years, 1882-1890. [online] Available at:

http://www.olmsted.org/storage/images/FLO_Papers_Images/03_The_12_Volumes/Volume_

8/FLOSpring2010.pdf [Accessed: 7 Nov 2013].

Garvin, A. 2004. The Beltline Emerald Necklace: Atlantas New Public Realm. [online]

Available at: http://beltlineorg.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-

content/uploads/2012/04/Emerald-Necklace-Study.pdf [Accessed: 7 Nov 2013].

Los Angeles Times Articles. 2005.An 'Emerald Necklace' May Grace Urban Atlanta.

[online] Available at: http://articles.latimes.com/2005/oct/24/nation/na-beltline24 [Accessed:

8 Nov 2013].

Paul, M. 2000.MOVING BEYOND SPRAWL The Challenge for Metropolitan Atlanta.

[online] Available at:

http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/research/files/reports/2000/3/atlanta/atlanta.pdf

[Accessed: 7 Nov 2013].

Tunnell-Spangler-Walsh & Associates. 2010.Atlanta BeltLine Master Plan -SUBAREA 1.

[online] Available at: http://beltlineorg.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-

content/uploads/2012/05/Atlanta-BeltLine-Subarea-1-Master-Plan-All.pdf [Accessed: 7 Nov

2013].

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