On a melting hot late-September afternoon, a large crowd of people was present as the Atlanta BeltLine’s Westside Trail was officially opened to the public on September 29, 2017. The heat proved to be a popular choice of topic for speakers at the ceremony, which was hosted at Gordon-White Park. Among the guests of honor, which included expected individuals like Major Kasim Reed and council members, the BeltLine’s Brian McGowan and Rob Brawner, and representatives from key public and private partners, but also a surprise appearance by Representative John Lewis; whom, Mayor Reed jokingly noted, “just happened to be in the neighborhood.”
Upon completion of the speeches, the guests of honor crossed White Street to cut the ribbon at the access ramp to the Westside Trail, surrounded by a swarm of media and visitors. After the ribbon cutting frenzy, the crowd disbursed back to the park for a community celebration and strolls along the newly opened trail.
Monday Night Brewing held its grand opening on Saturday, September 23rd, and Sunday, September 24th in the Lee+White development in West End at the corner of White Street and Lee Street, just a skip and a hop over from Westview. It was a bustling Saturday, and a chill, family-friendly Sunday featuring the company’s traditional beers, as well as special barrel-aged and sour beers. Barrel-aged beers will be the focus of the West End facility, while the Westside facility will keep the production of the regular beers.
Starting on Friday, September 29th, coinciding with the Atlanta BeltLine Westside Trail opening, the Monday Night Brewing Garage will start its normal business hours:
Monday-Thursday: 4pm-9pm
Friday-Saturday: 12pm-10pm
Sunday: 1pm-6pm
Please join Mayor Kasim Reed, Atlanta BeltLine, Inc., and Atlanta BeltLine Partnership on Friday, September 29, 2017 as the BeltLine Westside Trail will officially be opened!
Mayor Reed will set the stage with a keynote address at 4:00pm, to be followed by an official ribbon cutting ceremony at 4:30pm. From there, neighbors of the Westside Trail will be welcomed with a community celebration from 5:00 to 7:00pm, featuring free food, music, kid-friendly activities, and opportunities to meet participating local community groups, businesses, and entrepreneurs.
All the festivities will take place in Gordon White Park, just steps away from the new trail, and Atlantans of all ages are encouraged to get the know the 3-mile trail during the celebration.
The opening marks a huge milestone for the Atlanta BeltLine and the City of Atlanta, marking the conclusion of a three-year construction process and an unprecedented $43 million infrastructure investment in Southwest Atlanta. The Atlanta BeltLine hopes you can join them to celebrate this exciting occasion.
For more information visit the event page.
Coming Soon: Westside Trail Opening
Do you have questions? The Atlanta BeltLine’s got answers!
Do you have questions about trail hours, lighting, security, fencing and more? Join the Atlanta BeltLine during a Westside Trail construction update meeting. They will also be discussing the installation of a shed at the Aluma Urban Farm in Adair Park.
Additional supporting meeting materials can be found at: beltline.org/engage-meetings. These materials will be posted the day of the meeting.
Over the last few months news story after news story announced exciting new businesses moving into the Lee+White development along White Street in West End. On Tuesday, May 30, 2017 development moved one step closer with the groundbreaking ceremony of Monday Night Brewing’s expanded $5.5 million facility along the Atlanta BeltLine’s Westside Trail.
A crowd gathered to see guests of honor, Mayor Kasim Reed, Councilmember Cleta Winslow, and NPU-T Chair Terry Ross join Monday Night Brewing co-founders Jeff Heck, Joel Iverson, and Jonathan Baker for the special occasion.
The brewery is slated to open in September with an economic impact of $43.3 million and 34 new jobs.
Related press stories:
Now in its 7th year, the 2017 Atlanta BeltLine Run.Walk.Go! Race Series is the perfect chance to explore various trail segments and stay active. Check out the latest developments along the Atlanta BeltLine, snag an awesome t-shirt, and burn a few calories – runners, walkers, strollers, and dogs are welcome!
This event takes participants through the oldest neighborhood in Atlanta – West End. It also travels on the original segment of the Atlanta BeltLine – the West End Trail, before continuing through Westview.
Join the Atlanta BeltLine for an update on Westside Trail construction. Additional supporting meeting materials can be found at: beltline.org/engage-meetings. These materials will be posted the day of the meeting.
More good news on the park, greenery, and Atlanta BeltLine front – the future expanded Enota Park site will soon see movement. Trees Atlanta applied for, and received, a $46,800 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF). The 2-year project will tackle the removal of invasive species, such as ivy and kudzu, and include tree plantings along the I-20 slope to help control erosion and create a natural buffer from the highway.
NFWF press release:
Enota Park and Proctor Creek Restoration (GA)
Trees Atlanta, Inc.
Trees Atlanta and partners will remove six acres of invasive species and trash, replant native species to stabilize slopes and streambanks, and highlight the project through adult and youth
education programming. In addition, partners will redesign the portion of Proctor Creek that flows through the site and complete a full park design. Project will capitalize on the proximity
and timing of the Atlanta BeltLine Westside Trail (Enota Park Portion) project set for completion by the end of 2017. Partners include the Atlanta BeltLine, Park Pride, the City of Atlanta and
the Westview Community Organization.
Come learn about the Atlanta BeltLine Arboretum on the Westside Trail on this FREE Walking Tour!
Join trained Trees Atlanta Docents for this 90 minute walk covering roughly 2 miles. Each stop along the way will highlight neighborhood history, nearby key features of the Atlanta BeltLine, and a strong focus on the horticultural collections of the Arboretum. Great fun for all ages. Come prepared to walk and to be outdoors for this fun educational experience.
Please join the Atlanta BeltLine for Westside Trail construction updates:
- Safety
- Schedule
- Construction Impacts
- General Questions
Free parking available or travel by MARTA bus #68 or #81.
For more information, contact Nathan Soldat: NSoldat@atlbeltline.org
www.beltline.org/westsidetrail
