2019_10_03_TrailConceptReport_PATH Lakewood.pdf

PATH LAKEWOOD

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TRAIL CONCEPT REPORT

INTRODUCTION

Project Goals� 7 Project Overview� 8 Regional Value� 11 Local Context� 13 Historical Context� 14 Project Area Map� 16

CONDITIONS

Existing Conditions Overview� 19 Past Studies� 23 Area Demographics� 22 Existing Land Use� 24 Parks + Open Space� 26 Existing Utility Infrastructure � 28 Mobility Network� 30 Cultural/Historic Resources� 32 Environmental Resources� 34

CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

Public Engagement� 37 Advisory + Stakeholder Committees� 38 Public Meetings� 40 Subcommittee Meetings� 42 Three Concept Alternatives� 44

PROPOSED TRAIL ALIGNMENT

Master Plan Overview� 49 Master Plan� 50 Long-Term Cultural Engagement Recommendations� 52 Trail Elements� 54 Typical Sections� 59 Other Identified Projects� 60

CONCLUSION

Feasibility & Benefits� 63 Project Costs� 64 Timeline + Next Steps � 65

P A T H L A K E W O O D

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This project was made possible by the hard work and dedication of many business owners, community members, stakeholders, government officials, and others that gave their time and efforts, including:

ATLANTA BELTLINE

Lynnette Reid

Kevin Burke

CITY OF ATLANTA PARKS & RECREATION

Dan Calvert

LIVE NATION

Akeasha Branch

PARK PRIDE

Tina Arnold

THE VILLAGES AT CARVER FAMILY YMCA

Lisa Haygood

STAKEHOLDER SUBCOMMITTEES

NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS

Randy Veal

Jeff Delp

Jeff Lupton

Menalik Tefar

Charles Jenkins

Angenette Loubeau

Rev. Daniel Dickson

Chris McCord

Harriett Rondowsky

Kanika Greenlee

Darnell Shelton

ARTS + CULTURE

Fabian Williams

Meredith Kooi

Ashley Nash

Charity Hamidullah

PROJECT CHAMPIONS

CITY OF ATLANTA | MOBILITY PLANNING

Andrew Walter

Kemberli Sargent

PATH FOUNDATION

Pete Pellegrini

PROJECT CONSULTANTS

POND & COMPANY | LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

Matt Wilder

Andrew Kohr

Aubrey Sabba

Lauren Linnane

POND & COMPANY | ENVIRONMENTAL

Glenn Martin

Sara Duquette

NICKEL WORKS CONSULTING

Nicole McGhee Hall

Mia McKinney

NEW SOUTH ASSOCIATES

Jackie Tyson

Julie Coco

GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Gabrielle Williams

STAKEHOLDER COMMITTEE

ATLANTA CITY COUNCIL

Council Member, Joyce Sheperd - District 12

Council Member, Carla Smith - District 1

Chief of Staff, Sheryl Bennett - District 1

ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Larry Hoskins

Leslie Grant

Carla Pennyman

Herb Joseph

PROJECT

GOALS

The PATH Lakewood Study Area includes multiple neighborhoods within the southern sector of Atlanta including South Atlanta, High Point, The Villages at Carver, Joyland, Amal Heights, and Betmar LaVilla. The following are the three primary goals of the PATH Lakewood Project:

1. Through extensive community engagement, develop a preferred trail alignment connecting the existing Southtowne PATH Trail to the future

Atlanta BeltLine Southside Trail.

2. Provide consistency with the Atlanta BeltLine’s

Subarea Two Master Plan, 2013 LCI Plan, 2018

South Atlanta Plan, and the 2018 Park Pride South

Atlanta Park Vision Plan efforts.

3. Provide a Georgia Department of Transportation

(GDOT) Concept Report to advance the PATH

Lakwood Trail towards implementation and construction.

Looking north to the future Southside BeltLine Trail above Pryor Road SW, a biker walks his bike through the vegetation to the unpaved trail.

Photos left page:

PROJECT

OVERVIEW

INTRODUCTION

Photo right page:

The PATH Lakewood project is a joint effort between the PATH Foundation and the City of

Atlanta. There have been several studies leading up to this current effort, which have helped to support the need – and expressed the community’s desire

– to construct a south to north trail connection between PATH’s existing Southtowne Trail to the future Atlanta BeltLine Southside Trail Corridor between Glenwood Avenue and University

Avenue.

The process of developing the best alternative for the trail’s route involved coordination with the

Subarea Two Master Plan, the Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. (ABI), and their consultant; a Stakeholder

Advisory Committee (four meetings); and three public meetings. The design team developed three alternative alignments for the trail. Based on community and stakeholder feedback the team established a preferred alignment for the trail, taking into account its proximity and access to community landmarks, institutions/schools, neighborhoods, and parks.

Within the northern portion of South Atlanta Park, off George Washington Carter HS Road existing park paths can be seen in poor condition.

INTRODUCTION

REGIONAL

VALUE

The PATH Lakewood Study Area, located in southeast

Atlanta, is home to a number of significant cultural and commercial resources including Cellairis Amphitheatre at Lakewood (formerly Aaron’s Amphitheatre), The New

Schools at Carver, T.H. Slater Elementary, and Luther J.

Price Middle School, The Villages at Carver Family YMCA, EUE/Screen Gems Studios, several churches, parks, and residential neighborhoods. Originally established as a residential area for workers at the nearby General

Motors Lakewood Assembly plant, which operated until

1981, the community was also home to a recreation and resort area known as Lakewood Park. The park eventually became Lakewood Fairgrounds, then Scott

Antiques.

Off Lakewood Avenue, Lakewood Speedway was a one-mile, oval dirt track constructed around the Poole

Creek reservoir (now Lakewood Fairgrounds Lake). In addition, a quarter-mile dirt oval (“Little Lakewood”) and a quarter-mile dirt drag strip also operated. The first race on the speedway was a motorcycle race on July 28, 1917. The racing activities ceased during World War II but resumed in 1945 and continued for 34 years until

1979.

The PATH Lakewood Trail will provide a critical connection between the existing PATH Southtowne

Trail and the Atlanta BeltLine Southside rail. With its significant historic role in transportation and car racing, it seems fitting that the community look to create connectivity by realigning currently unconnected trail systems (or trails). With the metro Atlanta area focusing heavily on the expansion of trails to allow for safe alternatives, the connection of these two trails will help to further non-motorized connectivity throughout the

City of Atlanta and beyond.

One of three BeltLine access points. This one is the only "temporary", non-ADA compliment, access point located off Pryor Road SW and Manford Road SW.

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Home to an amphitheatre, major movie studio, schools, churches, parks, and a YMCA, a continuous trail through Lakewood between the Southtowne

Trail and the Atlanta BeltLine Southside Trail would provide a safe connection to other community landmarks for residents and visitors.

There has been a tremendous amount of change occurring with the study area that is comprised of seven distinctive neighborhoods. An artist's collective is creating edible open spaces. Lena Jean

Campbell School is reopening. The Carver YMCA is planning for expansion. Lakewood Heights is experiencing reinvestment in its business district.

Purpose Built Schools continues to expand. The first phase of the Southside BeltLine Trail has been opened. These collective efforts create the perfect environment to craft a vision for an expanded trail network that can support the positive change occurring in these south Atlanta neighborhoods.

LOCAL

CONTEXT

Painted house in South Atlanta at the corner of Landing Street SE and Martin Avenue SE.

Photos left page:

Southetowne Trail Facing north on Lakewood Avenue SE and at the entrance to South Bend Center for Arts & Culture is the beginning of the Southtowne PATH Trail, a 2.6 mile multi-use trail.

The Villages at Carver Family YMCA Off Pryor Road SW is the YMCA baseball complex and indoor pool and gym that offers athletic, social, and health components to the community.

South Atlanta Park Located within the South Atlanta neighborhood is a ten-acre park, which includes both active and passive recreation spaces.

Carver High School Allée Skirting the edge of Carver High School property off McDonough Boulevard lies an existing allée of magnolia trees that offers abundant shade. These trees reside at the former Gammon Theological Seminary (Clark University).

Lena Jean Campbell School North of Thirkield Avenue is Lena Jean Campbell School, an Atlanta Public School, which has been closed for the past several years, but will be reopening in 2020/2021.

South Fulton Health Center Off McDonough Boulevard, adjacent to the future Southside BeltLine Trail is the South Fulton Health Center building; the future location of one of three access points to the trail.

City of Atlanta purchases "Ponders Creek" mill land for first city waterworks.

Clark College is founded as the nation's first four-year liberal arts college for a primarily African- American student body.

1910s

Lakewood Park is selected as the fairgrounds site by Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, the Merchants and Manufacturers Association, and fair committee.

Atlanta Metropolitan State College is authorized by the Board of Regents followed by construction and establishment in the 1970s.

Amphitheater is built in Lakewood Park.

The Villages at Carver is established at the former Carver Homes location.

The George Washington Carver Homes were completed with 990 units costing $8.6 million as low-income housing.

Lakewood Park Company leases the former waterworks property for a "resort park."

Clark Theological Seminary welcomes its first class of students.

1950s

Lakewood Race Track completes the transition from horses to automobiles.

Joyland Park, an amusement park for African-American families, is built.

1910s-30s Bungalows are the primary house type built between the 1910s and 1930s in Lakewood Heights.

Atlanta Technical School first established as Smith-Hughes Vocational School.

1980s "Filmworks Exhibition Center" company uses Lakewood Fairgrounds for film, antique markets, and events.

Lakewood Heights Historic District is added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Screen Gems Studios occupies Lakewood Fairgrounds.

The Lakewood LCI Study is prepared for the City of Atlanta.

Georgia Conservancy's Blueprints for Successful Communities develops a vision with Lakewood Heights.

The Atlanta Audubon Society recognizes the McDaniel Branch Wetlands as an Atlanta Audubon Certified Wildlife Sanctuary.

Atlanta Area Technical School is reorganized and moved to its current southwest campus.

City of Atlanta's comprehensive transportation plan lays out a vision for pedestrian, bicycle, vehicular, and transit improvements.

2017-2019 The South Atlanta Master Plan, Subarea Two Master Plan for the BeltLine, and the South Atlanta Park Vision Plan are all updated or created.

Jonesboro Road

Corridor Study is completed.

The last car race is held on Labor Day on the Lakewood Speedway.

General Motors opens the Lakewood Assembly Plant, which operates until 1981.

Lloyd Seay wins the first organized event (now stock cars) at the Lakewood Speedway.

Southtowne Trail is extended one-mile connecting South Bend Park to Swan

Nature Preserve to the existing

Brown's Mill Golf Course.

Late 1890s Atlanta Rapid Transit Company builds a streetcar to Lakewood Park.

Atlanta's Race Riots begin in downtown and end in Brownsville / Historic South Atlanta.

Southeast Fair Association is founded and the Lakewood Speedway, a one-mile dirt horse track, was built.

The first motorcycle race takes place on July 4 at Lakewood Speedway.

Joyland Park, a subdivision for African-Americans, is built on the site of the former amusement park of the same name.

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Lakewood Fairgrounds aerial photograph

INTRODUCTION

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

TIMELINE

The communities served by this trail have had long historical involvement, the community has established deep roots in the Civil Rights movement and African-American history in Atlanta.

The timeline above highlights major milestones and events in the area, including the founding of Clark

College, the first four-year liberal arts university for African-Americans, as well as the 1906 Atlanta

Race Riots. It also illustrates the transformation of the amphitheatre and fairgrounds area from a race track into a successful movie studio.

A number of studies have been performed with the goal of making Lakewood into a vibrant, walkable/ bikeable, and sustainable community within the city limits of Atlanta. The proposed trail connections will be one of many steps in a positive direction to move it closer to that goal.

PROJECT AREA MAP

HIGH

POINT

SOUTH

ATLANTA

AMAL

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BETMAR

LAVILLA

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AT CARVER

LAKEWOOD

HEIGHTS

CAPITOL

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PEOPLESTOWN

JOYLAND

POLAR ROCK

CAPITOL

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SYLVAN

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SWALLOW

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BAYWOOD

CHOSEWOOD

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BENTEEN

BOULEVARD

HEIGHTS

GRANT PARK

THOMASVILLE

HEIGHTS

NORWOOD

MANOR

LAKEWOOD

OAKLAND

CITY

PITTSBURGH

ADAIR

PARK

Looking south down Lakewood Avenue SE, within South Bend Park, South River flows through a culvert to this ravine overtaken by kudzu and brush.

Photos left page:

EXISTING CONDITIONS

OVERVIEW

Throughout this effort land uses, demographics, underlying infrastructure, resources, and the existing mobility network helped to inform the decision-making process so that the proposed trail alignment can maximize community and regional benefits for the City of Atlanta.

This section of the report provides a snapshot of the existing community through which the proposed PATH Lakewood Trail will travel.

Prepared for the City of Atlanta and Invest Atlanta by TSW, in association with Grice Consulting Group, Contente Consulting, Noell Consulting Group, GreenRock Partners, and studio h urban

Lakewood Livable Centers Initiative September 2013

PAST

STUDIES

Beginning in 1998 with the Georgia Conservancy’s Blueprints for

Successful Communities and now with the current Historic South

Atlanta Redevelopment Plan, several studies have been conducted to guide the growth and transformation of the Lakewood area communities.

Looking north from Lakewood Avenue towards the Lakewood Amphitheatre property.

Photos right page:

CONDITIONS

Atlanta BeltLine Master Plan Subarea 2

The Subarea 2 Master Plan created a framework to support the future growth and development within the South Atlanta corridor to make it a more livable area.

Lakewood Liveable Center Initiative (LCI)

The 2013 LCI Study identified several potential trail routes around Lakewood Amphitheatre and north to the Atlanta BeltLine.

Blueprints for Successful Communities: Lakewood Heights

Focused on economic development, these blueprints planed for revitalization of the Lakewood Heights neighborhood through aesthetic improvements and encouraging neighborhood pride.

SPRING 2018

A N U R B A N R E D E V E LO P M E N T P L A N

H I S T O R I C

Historic South Atlanta Master Plan, An Urban Redevelopment Plan

The South Atlanta Master Plan reinforces the need for an expanded trail network, upgrades to South Atlanta Park, and re-purposing spacing around Lena Jean Campbell School.

South Atlanta Park

VISION PLAN

Prepared by

South Atlanta Visioning Plan, The Master Plan for South Atlanta Park calls for a north-south trail connection which moves southwest-northeast through the core of the park surrounded by active play areas.

Detailed demographic profile from the 30315 Zip Code (Atlanta, Georgia).

Demographic Information:

Pond presenting three alternatives for the potential trail alignment to community members of surrounding Lakewood neighborhoods at the Aurthur Langford Jr. Recreation Center.

Photo:

AREA

DEMOGRAPHICS

The graphic provides a snapshot of the demographics and socio-economic status of the residents of the 30315 zip code which includes the PATH

Lakewood Study Area.

CONDITIONS

KEY DEMOGRAPHIC FACTS

34,973 Population

33.6 Median Age

EDUCATION + EMPLOYMENT

$44,000 Average Household

Income

TRANSPORTATION TO WORK

82% Car

14% Bus

2% Rail

1% Walk

1% Other

HOUSING

34% Owner Occupied

66% Renter Occupied

Median Year Built

Race & Ethnicity

89.4 % Black

11.3 % White 7.2% Hispanic

2.1% Other

30% Households with

Children

48% Family House

Holds

No High School

Some High

School

Some College

Associate Degree

Bachelor's Degree

Graduate Degree

Self Employed

Private Company

Gov.

Worker

Non Profit

21.1%

34.0%

20.5%

5.1% 13.3%

6.0% 9.7%

69.1%

13.7% 7.4%

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0’ 500’ 1000’

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SWALLOW CIRCLE/ BAYWOOD

EXISTING

LAND USE

CONDITIONS

The PATH Lakewood Study Area includes eight land use categories, which can be seen on the map to the right.

Recreational open space or park, single family residential, and multi-family residential, and many schools make up most of the uses, with the amphitheatre grounds, Screen Gems

Studios (Lakewood Heights) and South Bend

Park combining to make up the largest area of recreational uses in the community.

Areas designated for commercial use are located along or near Lakewood Avenue and Pryor Road.

However, the parcels on which commercial uses actively operate are sparse. The Carver Family

YMCA and Southeast Atlanta Library are included in the commercially designated parcels along Pryor

Road at Thornton Street and Arthur Langford, Jr.

Place.

Residential uses are spread across the community.

Renaissance at Park Place, Veranda at Carver, and

Villages at Carver provide multifamily housing in the community, with Veranda at Carver catering to senior adults. The remaining residential areas consist single family housing.

The notable, largest area of institutional use is the New Schools at Carver, which contains Carver

High School, Carver School of the Arts, Carver

Early College, and School of Health Sciences and Research at Carver. T.H. Slater Elementary is immediately adjacent to the Carver schools complex and is included in this institutional use area. While the land is not designated as institutional, Lena Jean Campbell Elementary is separated from the other schools only by South

Atlanta Park. Further south, along Benjamin Bickers

Drive is Luther J. Price Middle School.

The group of parcels at the north end of the study area zoned as mixed use, though properties are currently a mix of industrial and commercial businesses. Once the Southside Trail corridor of the BeltLine is completed these parcels along with the adjacent parcels zoned for industrial use to the southwest and north of University Avenue, will eventually be consolidated into larger assemblages and redeveloped as a mixed-use, walkable node combining residential, commercial/retail, park space, and office uses.

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Project Boundary Roads Parcels

Low Density Residential High Density Residential Commercial Mixed Use Industrial Institutional/Public Facilities Recreational/Open Space Utilities

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LAKEWOOD AMPHITHEATRE

SOUTH BEND PARK

SOUTH ATLANTA PARK

KIMPSON PARK

ARTHUR LANGFORD JR. PARK

MCDANIEL BRANCH WETLANDS

PATH SOUTHTOWNE TRAIL

SOUTHSIDE BELTLINE TRAIL

ON-STREET BIKE LANE

SOUTH ATLANTATHE

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PARKS +

OPEN SPACE

The majority of the open space in the study area, at just over 113 acres, is the Lakewood Fairgrounds and Cellairis Amphitheatre, which sits adjacent to South Bend Park. Almost 77 acres, South Bend is the largest park in the study area and includes a dog park, a swimming pool, and baseball field as well as the South Bend Center for Arts and

Culture, which provides an after-school program and summer camps for children. The existing PATH

Southtowne Trail travels through this park.

Farther north, Arthur Langford, Jr. Park (10 acres) is in the Joyland neighborhood and provides greenspace, a baseball field, basketball courts and a recreation center. South Atlanta Park (11 acres) sits adjacent to the New Schools at Carver campus and includes greenspace, tennis courts, and a basketball court.

A membership-based facility, the Carver Family

YMCA has four baseball fields and provides well maintained greenspace for the community along

Meldon Avenue as it approaches Pryor Road.

South Bend Park The park includes a two-acre dog park, outdoor pool, Center for Arts & Culture, baseball field, picnic pavilion, tennis and basketball courts, and community garden space. The South River runs through the park.

Cellairis Amphitheatre An outdoor concert venue, opened in 1989 can hold approximative 19,000 people and hosts a wide array of popular musical artists and festivals.

Arthur Langford Jr. Park Just a few blocks from the Southside Trail is the second largest skatepark in Atlanta, a baseball field, play and exercise equipment, tennis courts, and walking trails.

The Villages at Carver Family

YMCA

A community landmark providing fitness equipment and classes, an indoor pool, and baseball fields to the community.

McDaniel Branch Wetlands An eight-acre Certified Wildlife Sanctuary which contains stormwater ponds, constructed wetlands, stream restoration;

it was designed to mitigate stormwater runoff.

Kimpson Park A .34-acre community garden and greenspace.

Outward Bound Within South Atlanta Park, Outward Bound leases an approximately one-acre space that provides a ropes course that is utilized to challenge youths.

Southside BeltLine Trail (Phase 2) A four-and-a-half mile trail segment that will connect to the existing Westside BeltLine Trail.

Southetowne PATH Trail The Southtown Trail is a 2.6-mile greenway that runs through South Bend Park and Swann Preserve to Brown's Mill Golf Course. The trail is set to connect further south to a mountain bike master plan (SORBA/

MTB ATL).

Project Boundary Lake/Pond Stream Roads Parcels Structures Contours

Open Space Wetland Park Proposed BeltLine Existing Bike Trail

SOUTH ATLANTA

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HIGH

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LAKEWOOD HEIGHTS

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JOYLAND

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SWALLOW CIRCLE/ BAYWOODN SCALE: 1”: 1000’

0’ 500’ 1000’

EXISTING UTILITY

INFRASTRUCTURE

Sewer easement running adjacent to a stream and to Claire Drive; within Lakewood Amphitheatre property.

Photo top page:

Within the project boundary area there are utilities that support the community including, sanitary and stormwater sewers, drainage pipes, telecommunication and transmission poles, water and electrical lines. The four particular areas highlighted on the map to the right, will require more significant utility coordination than the rest of the trail corridor as the project moves forward.

1. At Lakewood Avenue an existing culvert carries the stream from the pond, and runs underneath the roadway from the Lakewood Amphitheatre property to South Bend Park.

Electrical lines run above ground with poles approximately three-feet from the southern side of the roadway.

2. Within the Lakewood Amphitheatre property a sewer easement runs adjacent to a stream from Lakewood

Raceway to Claire Drive. Along Claire Drive, several City of

Atlanta facilities are located including City of Atlanta Office of Transportation, Atlanta Fleet Services, and Atlanta Waste

Management.

3. Along Pryor Road, in front of The Village at Carver Family

YMCA, a storm drainage easement runs adjacent to the roadway a stream; there the pipe splits in two directions.

Existing water vaults and light poles lie adjacent to the roadway.

4. Based on cursory research it is assumed there may be an easement between Lena Jean Campbell Elementary and The

Villages at Carver.

CONDITIONS

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Project Boundary Lake/Pond Stream Roads Parcels Structures

Area of Significant Utility Infrastructure

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CHOSEWOOD

PARK

SWALLOW CIRCLE/ BAYWOOD

N SCALE: 1”: 1000’

0’ 500’ 1000’

MOBILITY

NETWORK

The study area sits just to the east of the I-85/I-75 Downtown

Connector and to the north of Langford Parkway (SR 166). Pryor

Road provides north-south access through the area, starting at

Lakewood Avenue on the south end and continuing north past

University Avenue, parallel to the Downtown Connector. There are no major east-west thoroughfares, though Claire Drive, Meldon Avenue, Moury Avenue, and Thirkield Avenue all connect

Jonesboro Road/SR 54 with Pryor Road.

Overall, the study area offers relatively good connectivity for pedestrians through its sidewalk network. Pryor Road has sidewalks on one or both sides throughout the study area, though the layout of the network encourages pedestrians crossing mid-block. Several side streets and residential streets also provide sidewalks. However, there are many opportunities to expand the sidewalk network that would allow for more accessible and safer walking routes.

MARTA bus routes provide coverage through much of the area.

Routes 42, 55, and 155 run east-west and north-south through the PATH/Lakewood neighborhoods supporting students, residents, and businesses. The planning process considered how potential trails would intercept these bus routes, further strengthening the network.

Framing the PATH Lakewood neighborhoods is the Atlanta

BeltLine Southside Trail to the north and the PATH Southtowne

Trail to the south. The latter leads southeast towards Swann

Preserve and Brown’s Mill Golf Course. Between these two areas there is a significant gap in bike and trail infrastructure that hampers regional connectivity. The preferred trail alignment will connect these two disparate greenways, creating a regional connection and providing additional mobility options to residents.

Group walking on Pryor by the 3-Way Grocery, near the busy intersection where Pryor Circle meets Claire Drive and Pryor Road SW.

Photos right page. From top to bottom:

Existing sidewalks along the southern portion of Lakewood Avenue at South Bend Park.

Team walks on Pryor Road towards the Southside BeltLines "temporary" access stairs.

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Project Boundary Lake/Pond Stream Roads Parcels Buildings

Existing Sidewalk Existing Driveways & Parking Existing Bridge Proposed BeltLine Bike Infrastructure Railroad MARTA Bus Stop MARTA Bus Route xx

SOUTH ATLANTA

THE

VILLAGES

AT CARVER

HIGH

POINT

AMAL

HEIGHTS

BETMAR LA VILLA

LAKEWOOD HEIGHTS

CAPITOL

VIEW

MANOR

PEOPLESTOWN

JOYLAND

POLAR ROCK

CHOSEWOOD

PARK

SWALLOW CIRCLE/ BAYWOODN SCALE: 1”: 1000’

0’ 500’ 1000’

CULTURAL/HISTORIC

RESOURCES

A total of six archaeological sites have been documented within one kilometer of the study area. Of these sites, one falls within the boundary. The Streetcar Track/19th-20th Century consisted of two streetcar lines that helped aid historic development of the study area in the late nineteenth century. Also within the study area is a junction of the historic railroad via Ridge Avenue and Peoplestown that connected Grant Park to Downtown via Metropolitan Street Railroad.

Today, single family housing is evident in many of these neighborhoods within the study area; 62% of buildings within South

Atlanta neighborhood date prior to 1972. Sections of Betmar LaVilla and Joyland possess potential for historic significance as they retain historic characteristics.

The American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP) has identified a Civil-War related site within the study area, at the junction of the

Atlanta Belt Railway and East Tennessee, Virginia & Georgia railroads, extending south along McDonough Boulevard. This site has the potential to retain structures or sites associated with the conflicts.

Lakewood/Cellairis Amphitheatre, a concert venue with 20-30 events occurring April – October each year, provides musical entertainment for members of the community and is also a big draw for concert goers throughout metro Atlanta area and beyond. Screen Gems

Studios plays a part in the making of TV shows and movies to entertain people all over the world. This area has been identified on the map as a Georgia Natural, Archaeological, and Historical

Resource (GNAHR) Study Area potentially for it's fairground and speedway history.

Five years ago Bloom ArtsATL created Cherokee Rosewood, an organization enacted to support Atlanta and help revitalize under-served communities in Atlanta through placemaking and art has enacted projects throughout the study area with uplifting murals, an edible garden, and community greenspace.

CONDITIONS

Lakewood Park 1894.

Southern Industrial

Published Co. Georgia State University Archives

Photos left page. From top to bottom:

Lakewood Park Fairgrounds 1910s.

Lane Brothers Commercial Photographers Collection

Georgia State University Archives

1946 Lakewood Fairgrounds Courtesy of

AJC.com

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ADAIR AVE SW

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Project Boundary Lake/Pond Stream Roads Parcels

Nation Registry of Historic Places GNAHR Study Areas Historic Rail Roads Civil War Related Study Area Historic Streetcar Line

N SCALE: 1”: 1000’

0’ 500’ 1000’

ENVIRONMENTAL

RESOURCES

Vines covering properties throughout study area.

The unnamed minor perennial stream/ river running through Lakewood Amphitheatre.

The map illustrates streams, associated floodplains, floodway, and wetlands within the study area.

Photo right page, bottom:Photo right page, top:

Map, left page:

An environmental screening was conducted by Pond of the approximate 978 acres of developed land within the study area, to identify environmental and cultural constraints at a concept level. The PATH Lakewood Study Area is located within the South

River watershed. Within the Cellairis Amphitheatre property is the Lakewood Fairgrounds Lake, which is fed by the Middle

Branch South River, an impaired stream, that connects to the main stems of the South River. The South River North Fork runs from High Point through South Bend Park.

FLOODPLAIN AND FLOODWAY

Designing within an area that is considered part of a stream's natural undisturbed flow is challenging. Any permanent structures within a floodway (or 100 year floodplain) must be shown as having no impact on the stream or rise in the floodplain. Where possible the final trail design should set structures above the floodplain elevation and outside of the floodway. Permanent structures like bridges and abutments necessitate additional studies.

STREAM BUFFERS

The state has a 25-foot undisturbed buffer and Atlanta requires a 75-foot natural, undisturbed vegetative buffer. This is exempt if crossing perpendicular (i.e. bridge), but a hydraulic analysis signed by an engineer is required and must demonstrate no impact to upstream and downstream properties during a 100-year flood. Design strategies at crossings include minimizing buffer disturbance, and planting native vegetation.

VEGETATION

The study area contains a mixture of areas of moderate vegetation density and moderate barren areas. Invasive species such as kudzu and ivy are predominant throughout the area.

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ADAIR AVE SW

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ARTHUR B. LANGFORD JR

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SOUTH ATLANTA

THE

VILLAGES

AT CARVER

HIGH

POINT

AMAL

HEIGHTS

BETMAR LA VILLA

LAKEWOOD HEIGHTS

CAPITOL

VIEW

MANOR

PEOPLESTOWN

JOYLAND

POLAR ROCK

CHOSEWOOD

PARK

SWALLOW CIRCLE/ BAYWOOD

MIDDLE BRANCH SOUTH RIVER

LAKEWOOD

FAIRGROUNDS LAKE

SOUTH RIVER NORTH FORK

SOUTH RIVER NORTH FORK

MCDANIEL BRANCH WETLANDS

Project Boundary Lake/Pond Perennial Stream Roads Parcels Contours

Wetland Floodway 100 Year Flood 500 Year Flood Brown Fields Hazerdous Waste Site

The preferred alternative being presented by Pond to community members.

Photos left page:

The PATH Lakewood study area is home to a diversity of neighborhood members including residents, business owners and community stakeholders. With its proximity to local parks and the Cellairis Amphitheatre at Lakewood, the area’s potential makes it ripe for connection to the nearby

BeltLine corridor and other key destinations.

Engaging with the various audiences around this potential connection was vital to the success of this process and included a comprehensive approach for capturing input and sharing information. The goal of the engagement program was to establish a community vision for the preferred alignment via feedback from advisory committees, public meetings, targeted subcommittees, and individual stakeholder meetings.

Engaging members of the Lakewood community, City of Atlanta staff, Atlanta BeltLine staff, the PATH Foundation, and other stakeholders was a critical component of the planning process for the PATH Lakewood Trail.

PUBLIC

ENGAGEMENT

February 28, 2019 Public Meeting #1

March 28, 2019 Public Meeting #2

May 6, 2019 Subcommittee Meeting

June 6, 2019 Steering Committee + Public Meeting #3

January 29, 2019 Steering Committee

Meeting #1

March 26, 2019 Steering Committee

Meeting #2

April 31, 2019 Art Initiative Meeting

May 23, 2019 Technical Committee

Meeting

October XX, 2019 Final Stakeholder

Meeting

PROJECT WORK PLAN

Bi-weekly core group meetings and GDOT monthly meetings occurred.

ADVISORY +

STAKEHOLDER COMMITTEES

The project team identified key community members to participate on the Stakeholder

Advisory Committee (SAC) to help shape the community vision and identify a preferred alignment. The committee included representation from Atlanta City Council, local business owners, Atlanta Public Schools, and Park Pride, among many other neighborhood residents and representatives. SAC members identified a general theme of neighborhood connection through their feedback including desires to connect the proposed trail to the BeltLine and increase economic development potential, connect the community to the surrounding facilities and amenities as an additional mobility option, and, connect existing community members to the history and culture of

PATH Lakewood Study Area. In addition, a Technical

Advisory Committee (TAC) comprised of municipal leaders and subject matter experts was convened twice during the process to provide technical guidance to the project team. Members included the City of Atlanta Department of City Planning, the

Atlanta BeltLine, and the PATH Foundation.

STAKEHOLDERS

Individual meetings and engagement efforts occurred with other stakeholders including The

Villages at Carver Family YMCA leadership, Purpose

Built Schools, The Villages at Carver, and the Atlanta

Public School District to ensure that the alignment is supportive of their existing policies and efforts to connect to the larger community.

CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

Stakeholders meet to discuss the three proposed alignment alternatives and the preferred alignment at South Atlanta Library within the Joyland neighborhood.

Photo right page:

The stakeholder group desired cultural preservation, transportation connectivity, greenspace preservation, safety, ease of maintenance, and destination opportunities.

PUBLIC

MEETINGS

Community members from High Point looking at and discussing potential trail elements withing the Lakewood Trail at second public meeting.

Photo top left:

Community members discussing with Atlanta City Planning staff the preferred alignment.

Photo bottom left:

During the second public meeting, the project team presented a brief overview of the project and took questions from the community.

Photo far right:

CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

Three public meetings were convened: one meeting each was held in February, March, and June 2019.

Each meeting generated tangible feedback from engaged citizens and neighborhood residents.

Following the first public meeting, interests beyond the trail alignment emerged, highlighting the need to establish a larger vision that revealed the history and culture within the context of the project.

Two subcommittees were formed focusing on transportation and culture respectively.

Art and Culture Subcommittee and project team members.

Photo top right:

Mural within Arthur B. Langford Jr.

Recreation Center.

Photo bottom right:

CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

SUBCOMMITTEE

MEETINGS

A deeper dive into history and culture occurred when the two subcommittees convened to more thoroughly discuss transportation, mobility and the arts. Subsequent interests from the Transportation and Mobility Subcommittee included significant focus on the "feel" of the pedestrian and cyclist experience and appropriate safety measures across the alignment; ensuring the youth in the area have sufficient access to the area schools;

coordination between municipalities, non-profit agencies and the local school district on trail etiquette and operating hours; and, maintaining local vegetation.

The Arts and Culture subcommittee highlighted how art can address some of the most basic needs of the community in the area. As an example, Bloom Arts ATL, an Atlanta based non-profit organization, introduced the Cherokee Rosewood placemaking project (just outside of the study area on HWY-54) where a new artist district is being cultivated. Their goal is to turn Atlanta into an international arts tourism destination by transforming underserved communities into self-sustaining, distinctive places through an emphasis on art, history and culture.

As participants on the subcommittee, their interests included significant focus on cultural representation through murals and sculptures, historical reflection sites that highlight African-

American artists and civil-rights leaders, and branding that merges the PATH Lakewood Study

Area experience with the larger Atlanta imprint on local and global art.

Those interests were mirrored by Meredith Kooi, lead artist of the Southwest Atlanta Oral History project. In her work, she leads a project that aims to document the recent and historical narratives of Atlanta’s Southwest neighborhoods, while providing learning opportunities for neighborhood youth. She provided guidance on how to research and preserve the culture on the southeast side of Atlanta, and how this trail is an opportunity to highlight that strong history.

N SCALE: NTS 4544

THREE CONCEPT

ALTERNATIVES

Alternative A (red) - West Centric

Photo left page

Alternative B (orange) - Middle Centric

Photo middle page

Alternative C (purple)- East Centric

Photo right page

Access between the PATH Southtowne Trail and the future BeltLine Southside Trail corridor through the western portion of the study area. Comments from the public on this proposed alignment included:

• There is a missed opportunity to follow the stream/utilize existing water features.

• There is a concern about right-of-way, tightness, and lighting on Bowen Circle.

• There is concerns about High Point Avenue and existing fence in relation to trail alignment.

• There needs to be better connectivity to the southeast side of the community and the schools.

• The incorporation of the city's managed wetlands is a good feature.

CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

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North-south access from the PATH Southtowne

Trail to the future BeltLine Southside Trail corridor through the middle of the study area. Comments from the public on this proposed alignment were as follows:

• The loop around Lakewood Raceway/Pryor

Road/Lakewood Way/Lakewood Avenue is an important feature.

• There is a concern about the Pryor Road “road diet,” because of morning commute traffic.

• There is a desire to incorporate the

Watershed Management Wetland.

• This route is the best/most direct plan for commuter cyclists and walkers.

• The proximity to the roadway is concerning – but also potential to slow a high-speed road and make it a boulevard.

• There is a preference for a spur to create better/ safer connections to schools.

Access between the PATH Southtowne Trail and future BeltLine Southside Trail corridor through the eastern portion of the study area. Comments from the public included:

• There is heavy pedestrian traffic between

Betmar Villa and the schools.

• The YMCA has controlled access to its back gate eliminating potential access for residents.

• The connection to the schools is an important feature.

• Consider Middleton Road instead of Benjamin

Weldon Bickers Drive for the trail alignment because of topography concerns and traffic speeds.

• This alternative has poor east-west connectivity.

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OVERVIEW

After studying the existing conditions of the PATH

Lakewood study area, speaking with community members and stakeholders, and considering public feedback, three alternatives three alternatives were devised. Specific criteria the community identified as important for a trail included:

• Safer school connections.

• Trails that follow the streams.

• Direct bike routes.

• Connecting community greenspace.

• Off road trails.

DECISION MATRIX

A decision matrix was created by the project team to aid in communicating the selection of the preferred alignment.

Along the top row, criteria important to the success of the trail are shown, and along the side each trail alignment and the preferred alternative are shown.

In the corresponding boxes, trail alternative statistics are shown for an easy to read visual comparison of each criterion and alternative.

Ultimately, the preferred alignment provides connections to the Southtowne Trail and the

Atlanta BeltLine's permanent access points while balancing connectivity between the east and west neighborhoods of the study area.

The preferred alignment provides 3.75 miles of new trail, directly connects six neighborhoods, impacts only 21 properties, provides direct access to three of the four area schools (the fourth school being easily accessible on residential streets), connects five parks, utilizes off-road or low volume streets for half of its length, provides direct access to the Southtowne Trail and Atlanta BeltLine ADA access points, and minimizes points of conflict at intersecting roads and driveway aprons.

CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

A

B

C

S

PREFERRED

ALIGNMENT

- ALL PHASES

ALTERNATIVE

- WEST CENTRIC

ALTERNATIVE

- MIDDLE CENTRIC

ALTERNATIVE

- EAST CENTRIC

13,000 LINEAR

FEET /

2.45 MILES

17,150 LINEAR

FEET /

3.25 MILES

11,900 LINEAR

FEET /

2.25 MILES

15 ROADS

13 APRONS

10 ROADS

18 APRONS

10 ROADS

9 APRONS

10 ROADS

0 APRONS

YES

SOUTHETOWNE

TRAIL TO BELTLINE

ADA ACCESS POINT

NO

SOUTHETOWNE

TRAIL TO BELTLINE

NON-ADA ACCESS

POINT

YES

SOUTHETOWNE

TRAIL TO BELTLINE

ADA ACCESS POINT

YES

SOUTHETOWNE

TRAIL TO BELTLINE

ADA ACCESS POINT

50%

OF TRAIL

35%

OF TRAIL

40%

OF TRAIL

90%

OF TRAIL

PROPERTIES

PROPERTIES

PROPERTIES

PROPERTIES

TRAIL ALIGNMENT

LENGTH

CONFLICT POINTROW /

EASEMENTS

NEIGHBORHOOD

CONNECTIONS

ACCESS TO

SCHOOLS

PARK

CONNECTIVITY

OFF ROAD / LOW

VOLUME

DIRECT ACCESS

17,254 LINEAR

FEET /

3.75 MILES

Project team members from the City of Atlanta, Nickel Works, and Pond observe existing conditions during a field verification visit in South Atlanta Park.

Photo left page:

PATH POSSIBILITIES

The preferred alignment is divided into three phases, with the goal that funding will be secured for all three, but identifies a first phase that provides a safe, direct connection between South

Bend Park and the Atlanta BeltLine Southside Trail.

MASTER PLAN

OVERVIEW

The public outreach and feedback, field verification, and contextual research and analysis all contributed to the development of the final master plan recommendation.

PROPOSED TRAIL ALIGNMENT

N SCALE: 1”: 900’

0’ 450’ 900’

Example of a tunnel pedestrian underpass. A similar solution is recommended for crossing under Lakewood Avenue to connect from South Bend Park to the Cellaris Amphitheatre property.

The PATH Lakewood trail requires three pedestrian bridges, predominantly in the southern half of the study area.

Prefabricated bridges, as shown in the example on the left, are durable, more economical and attractive.

Typical PATH trail with two-way markings, signage and clear zones on either side.

Example of a wayside along side the PATH 400 Trail, with bench seating, lighting, signage and landscaping.

Existing Southetowne PATH Trail Future Atlanta BeltLine BeltLine Access Point - ADA (Ramp) BeltLine Access Point - Stairs Conflict Point - Road Conflict Point - Apron

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The first phase of the trail begins at South Bend

Park, where the Southtowne trail currently terminates. It will cross underneath Lakewood

Avenue, and connects via a tunnel onto the Cellairis

Amphitheatre property (City of Atlanta). The trail works its way north along a stream within the

Amphitheatre property, then as a sidepath along

Claire Drive and Pryor Road. At Meldon Avenue, the trail continues eastward before turning north forming a linear park space through South Atlanta

Park connecting to the New Schools at Carver. The trail terminates at the future ramp of the BeltLine

Southside Trail.

Phase II will be the quickest and most effiencet route from a commuter standpoint from the Southetowne

Trail to the BeltLine. The trail runs from the YMCA property on Pryor Road directly to the Atlanta

BeltLine permanent access ramp. A short spur will cross Pryor at Arthur Langford Jr. Place to connect to

Arthur Langford Jr. Park. This segment will require a larger streetscape traffic study and road diet -the community does not want a sidepath without sufficient landscape buffer between the road and the trail.

Phase III will begin at Southtowne Bend Park and travel west along the south side of Lakewood

Avenue. It will require a pedestrian bridge to cross a tributary of the South River. The trail will be adjacent to the roadway, creating a vital connection to the

Hilltop Drive neighborhood where sidewalks and connections are sparse. Collectively these three trails form over 3.2 miles within the PATH Lakewood

Study Area - enhancing mobility and reconnecting communities.

SOUTH ATLANTA

THE

VILLAGES

AT CARVER

HIGH

POINT

AMAL

HEIGHTS

BETMAR LA VILLA

LAKEWOOD HEIGHTS

CAPITOL

VIEW

MANOR

JOYLAND

POLAR ROCK

CHOSEWOOD

PARK

Project Boundary Lake/Pond Stream Parcel Lakewood Trail - Phase I Lakewood Trail - Phase II

Lakewood Trail - Phase III Tunnel Under Lakewood Avenue

As outlined on the facing page, the vision for the community can be maintained through keeping the public engaged and garnering resident participation in progressive ways.

Diagram top:

CO

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ENGAGE

CAPTU

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PROPOSED TRAIL ALIGNMENT

LONG-TERM CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT

RECOMMENDATIONS

This project plan outlines both a preferred alignment and a collective vision for the future of the area. Though the planning process will end, the project will be placed in the pipeline to receive funding and eventually be built out in phases. Progressing from the planning stages to groundbreaking and construction will be a longer process that will introduce a new set of variables. Those variables could include changes to the built environment, demographic shifts, transit expansion, and changes in community properties. Managing change well and preserving the culture of the PATH Lakewood communities requires a collective beyond with city leadership, key stakeholders, such as ABI, and neighboring advocates. Steps to accomplish this are as follows:

1. Maintain the core components of the community vision

a. Connect the proposed trail to the BeltLine and increase…