Construction is underway on the Woodall Rail Trail, the first segment of the Silver Comet Connector in Atlanta.
The future trail follows Woodall Creek, a tributary to Peachtree Creek, in a preserved 10-acre tract of land teeming with native plants and wildlife. It begins at the future Northwest BeltLine connection at Ellsworth Industrial Boulevard and Elaine Avenue and extends north to the intersection of Chattahoochee Avenue and Chattahoochee Row at The Works.
The trail will provide safe walking and biking infrastructure while protecting this forest preserve in an area of Atlanta that lacks sidewalks and greenspace.
Grants from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and project partners Groundwork Atlanta, PATH Foundation, Trees Atlanta and the Upper Westside CID are driving the project forward. In 2022, it was awarded a Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Project (GOSP) grant because of its ability to reconnect residents and visitors to hidden natural resources.
“The Woodall Rail Trail is a testament to the commitment of our Upper Westside community, our project partners and the enduring spirit of collaboration,” said Elizabeth Hollister, Executive Director, Upper Westside Community Improvement District. “It symbolizes the shared dedication to creating a healthier, more sustainable and interconnected Atlanta.”
To improve water quality in the previously neglected creek, the Upper Westside Community Improvement District partnered with Atlanta’s Department of Watershed Management to design a bioswale, or a vegetated area with special soils and plants, to pretreat the water run-off from both Ellsworth Industrial Boulevard and Elaine Avenue before it enters Woodall Creek. This critical green infrastructure is partially funded by a 319(h) grant from DNR and will be constructed in the roadway.
Project partners Groundwork Atlanta and Trees Atlanta led volunteer groups throughout 2022 and 2023 to remove invasive plants from the 10-acre tract. Their…
Read the full article here
