City of Atlanta unveils design plans for new Memorial Drive greenway, vibrant linear park

ATLANTA—The City of Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation has kicked off the design phase for the Memorial Drive Greenway, a planned linear park stretching from historic Oakland Cemetery to the edge of downtown. 

Led by Pond & Company, the project will transform underused land into a vibrant public space connecting neighborhoods with input from residents and community stakeholders in shaping the final vision. The design team will draw upon the 2016 Memorial Drive Vision Plan as a foundational guide.

The Memorial Drive Greenway will revitalize a half mile stretch of the corridor between Memorial Drive SE and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive SE, turning approximately 8.5 acres into a people-centered greenspace. The project is framed by Oakland Cemetery on the east end and the Downtown Connector on the west. 

Phase One of the project includes the schematic design of the entire length of the park plus full design, permitting and construction for one of the seven city blocks in the greenway.

The Greenway will incorporate Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES) strategies, including stormwater management and native plantings to enhance biodiversity and improve public health.

City officials and greenspace advocates are applauding plans for the transformational project.

“Our Administration’s pillar of making Atlanta a City Built for the Future has always kept preservation and environmental sustainability at the forefront of our city’s growth and progress—which is why I created the first Greenspace Advisory Council. Every neighborhood deserves access to quality parks and greenspace, and I am eager to see this project through,” said Mayor Andre Dickens.

“This is what transformational infrastructure looks like: inclusive, innovative, and inspired by the people it serves,” said Councilmember Liliana Bakhtiari. “From skate parks to shade trees, the Greenway is built not just for today’s Atlanta, but for the generations who will inherit it. Every path we pave here is a pathway to equity, healing and shared experience. It honors our heritage while charting a greener, more connected future for every Atlantan.”

“The long-awaited development of Memorial Drive Greenway is a powerful example of what’s possible when a community comes together with a shared vision. This project wouldn’t have been possible without the efforts of our dedicated team of volunteers and stakeholders, the support of our Parks Department and the Dickens Administration, and the leadership of Councilmember Bakhtiari, whose commitment helped turn this vision into reality. I’m eager to collaborate with this team to deliver a vibrant green space that will serve as a prominent corridor for the surrounding neighborhoods and historical places,” said 

Brent Beatty of The Friends of Memorial Drive Greenway.

The Department of Parks and Recreation, in partnership with the design team and stakeholders, will launch a public engagement process in the coming months. More information and updates will be posted on the City of Atlanta Parks and Recreation website and shared through community channels.

“Atlanta is reimagining Memorial Drive as a vibrant greenway—a welcoming space to walk, gather, reflect and reconnect with nature. Pond and Company is honored to lead the design of this transformative project, guided by community voices, grounded in sustainability, and dedicated to creating a lasting legacy for East Atlanta,” said Grady Smith, Senior Vice President at Pond & Company.

Project funding and partners

Planning and design for the Greenway is funded by:

• $560,037 in discretionary funds from Council District 5 as part of the Moving Atlanta Forward (MAF) bond
• $500,000 from the City of Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation’s FY27 Park Improvement Fund to support a pilot implementation project

The project is made possible by a broad coalition of partners, including the City of Atlanta, Pond & Company, Dan Kurzius (Mailchimp Co-Founder), The Integral Group, Park Pride, the Friends of Memorial Drive Greenway, and The Conservation Fund.