The Chastain Park Conservancy is fundraising $13 million for a new green space project.
The Palisades Project will use 30 acres of previously inaccessible land nestled between hole 16 and Nancy Creek.
Conservancy president and CEO Rosa McHugh said this land has been inaccessible to parkgoers, and “there’s unfortunately a lot of invasive plants that have grown in this area.”
McHugh said the need for more space became evident during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“People fell in love with green space again,” McHugh said. “The conservancy was able to work with the city and develop this program where we could open the golf course for the community to use this green space.”
She said people used the green space to walk and run around, do yoga, let kids ride bikes and more. But sharing the space wasn’t a sustainable option in the long run.
“It wasn’t very safe, and the maintenance of it was tricky and all of that, so the city kind of decided it’s not the right protocol for us.”
Working with the community, McHugh said the Chastain Park Conservancy created a plan for the Palisades.
“What this place will be, will be is an opportunity to sit, really enjoy yourself, you know — Throw a blanket, read a book, do tai chi, do yoga,” she said. “I’m really excited about one piece of it that’s going to be 40 feet higher than the golf course and a place to sit and watch the sunset.”
It’ll include more than a mile of accessible walking trails, restored native landscapes, outdoor classrooms and new gathering spaces.
McHugh said if the conservancy raises the full amount it needs for the capital campaign, they’ll be slated to start construction by the end of the year. The Conservancy still has a few last major fundraising events coming up, such as its Gilded Trail “western glam” fundraiser and Boots & Bubbles live music and line dancing night at the St. Regis Atlanta.
She said construction for the Palisades project will take one year.
