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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_system8/14/2019 atlanta final.docx
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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.
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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].