An open house on Oct. 14 at the Oakland Cemetery Visitor’s Center offered attendees the opportunity to share their interest levels on proposed amenities for the Memorial Drive Greenway.
The linear park, which will stretch from the historic cemetery to the Downtown Connector, has been floating around for more than 50 years, but is now poised to break ground in Fall 2026.
Representatives said the greenway is being built on principles first detailed in a 2016 vision plan. Representatives from Pond & Company, the engineering firm that will guide construction, said the neighborhoods around he park have changed significantly in the past decade and new input was needed from residents and stakeholders.
The greenway will be broken into six block segments, located between existing roadways, including Martin Street, Connally Street, Moore Street, Hill Street, Fort Street, and Grant Street.
Each segment currently has a theme: Celebrate, Move, Explore, Gather, Play, and Reflect. The first segment to break ground next year will be the Move segment, which will include a skatepark designed by Canadian firm New Line Skateparks, a roller skating plaza, and an all-wheel pump track.
Visitors to the open house were asked to place small stickers on elements they’d like to see in the other segments. For example, in the Explore block, there is potential for a large children’s play area, while the Celebrate block could have an amphitheater or stage area.
The Atlanta Preservation Center has weighed in on naming the park after late restaurateur Ria Pell, whose Ria’s Bluebird remains a beloved brunch spot and was a catalyst for reviving the bustling Memorial Drive corridor.
The greenway is being made possible by a coalition of partners, including the City of Atlanta, Pond & Company, Mailchimp co-founder Dan Kurzius, The Integral Group, Park Pride, the Friends of Memorial Drive Greenway, and The Conservation Fund.
(Photos by Jacob Nguyen)
