2024 is shaping up to be a great year for infrastructure improvement projects in Westview! Two long awaited projects along Ralph David Abernathy Blvd are already underway and construction on BeltLine adjacent Enota Park are scheduled to begin later this year.
The Complete Streets project on Ralph David Abernathy Blvd dates back to 2011, when an ambitious group of neighbors worked with the City of Atlanta’s Planning Department to create the Westview Master Plan. This plan set the groundwork for the redevelopment of the Westview neighborhood, and it made projects included in the plan eligible for City infrastructure bond funds.
In 2014, a large group of neighbors wearing Westview t-shirts, attended a meeting about the upcoming Infrastructure Bond project list. They asked the City of Atlanta to include improvements to Ralph David Abernathy Blvd through Westview. Their requests were heard and $1 million was set aside for Westview infrastructure projects. After many years of delays, these improvements are now coming to fruition. Look for improved pedestrian and bike infrastructure, including wider sidewalks, bulbouts, crosswalks, pedestrian lighting, and protected bike lanes. The project will also narrow RDA in various places to help with reducing vehicle speeds through the Westview commercial district.
A separate project project happening in parallel with the RDA Complete Streets project will create a new BeltLine access point at South Gordon St. This will provide the neighborhood with a second option to hop on and off the Westside Trail. The access point will include a new ADA ramp, stairs, a small plaza, landscaping, and a much needed pedestrian crossing at South Gordon St and Ralph David Abernathy Blvd.
Later this year, the Atlanta BeltLine anticipates breaking ground on Enota Park. Enota Park will be Westview’s largest greenspace and provide neighbors with a new playground, splash pad, sports facilities, a passive nature trail, and more. The eastern edge of Enota Park is bordered by the Atlanta BeltLine Westside Trail, which opened in 2017. The visioning for Enota Park dates back to an effort by Park Pride in 2007 to transform undeveloped land into a community-oriented park. The project was later picked up by the Atlanta BeltLine and included as one of the original parks proposed along the trail.
