Atlanta’s cycling community is gearing up for a “game-changing” municipal bike park after the Chestnut Family Foundation donated $8 million to the Atlanta Beltline, Inc. project.
The park is set to be the first of its kind in Atlanta: an all-ages and all skill-level set of terrain and obstacles for mountain bikers, cyclists and hikers. Once finished, it will have 2.25 miles of mountain bike trails, an asphalt track, skills course, playground and other offerings.
With the hefty donation, Atlanta Beltline, Inc. will be able to exit design and kick off its first phase of construction. But the project still needs to close a $6 million gap in funding – officials said the scope of the first construction phase will be dependent on the amount of funds.
Throughout the planning, the park has been called a “premier biking destination” and a future “world-class facility.” It aims to be a destination for everyone: All of the park offerings are planned for different skill levels, with bike trail options for beginners and intermediate riders that will include berms, bridges, boardwalks, switchback turns and rollers. For advanced cyclists there will be a “gravity trail” designed for descending with large rocks and steep drop-offs.
Alongside the mountain bike trails, a bike playground with balance beams, small rollers and gentle turns for a low-risk training ground for beginners. An asphalt pump track will accommodate all wheeled sports with berms and rollers. Plans also include jump lines and an overlook of the bike park and landscape.
The host of features will bolster the Beltline’s inclusivity and sustainability goals, according to officials.
“This park is a critical component of Atlanta Beltline’s mission to provide equitable recreational opportunities and healthy lifestyles for all Atlantans,” Beltline, Inc. President and CEO Clyde Higgs said.
The Beltline CEO called the bike park a “game changer” for the Westside. It comes alongside ongoing Westside redevelopment pushed by organizations like the Westside Future Fund and a recently declared “war on blight” from Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and the city council.
The Executive Director of MTB Atlanta, the local chapter of the Southern Road Bicycle Association, Brett Davidson said Westside Park is the “ideal location for the landmark project” due to its location, bike connectivity, forest canopy and topography.
“This park will serve as a crucial hub for learning, inclusivity in cycling, and passive outdoor recreation right in the heart of the city,” Davidson said.
The Beltline Partnership is right off the nearby Westside trail segment, but there is no direct connection to the proposed bike park – though the City of Atlanta received a grant in July to fund multi-use paths in the Westside Park.
While the Chestnut Family Foundation isn’t the end of bike park fundraising, the $8 million donation will be “transformative” for the project. It adds onto a previous grant from the Coca-Cola Foundation, too.
MailChimp founder and CEO Ben Chestnut started the family foundation with his wife, Teresa Chestnut, to help “improve childrens’ lives,” focusing primarily on small and medium-sized organizations.
The all-ages bike park proved to be a good fit, particularly because Ben Chestnut is an avid cyclist.
“We’re deeply committed to advancing the vision of the Atlanta Beltline at Westside Park, and we’re thrilled that this donation will give greater access to the sport of mountain biking to the people of Atlanta,” Chestnut said in a prepared statement, “Westside Park is the perfect place to create new opportunities for residents to explore and enjoy the outdoors, fostering a love for biking in communities that previously didn’t include trails like this.”
The Beltline is currently seeking philanthropic funding for the rest of the project.
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