The Atlanta Beltline celebrated Earth Day with a groundbreaking ceremony set to transform a long-standing 0.3-acre play lot into Enota Park, an 8-acre recreational destination in Westview on April 22.
Enota Park will feature three distinct areas: a spacious lawn with a performance pavilion and boardwalk, a pedestrian connection from the park to the beltline, and a lower area that will be the “recreational heart” of the park. It will also include a splash bad, seating area and basketball court.
“For decades, the Westview community has lacked a place for kids to play, families to gather and neighbors to connect with one another in the way that’s going to happen when we complete this project,” Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said.
The park is set to be completed in Spring 2026. Once open, it will create a long-awaited direct connection between the historic Westview neighborhood and the Beltline. The park was first envisioned as one of the original ‘jewel parks” in the 2004 Trust for Public Land Beltline Emerald Necklace Study. But building the park was a decades-long effort.
From 2007 to 2009, the Trust for Public Land bought up six properties to add 3.8 acres of land to the park. The City of Atlanta also adopted ordinances to secure additional land. But designs didn’t materialize until 2018, when firm POND was picked to lead planning efforts.
It took years for Enota Park to get the necessary funds to break ground. The approximately $14 million park is funded by more than a dozen foundations, including the Coca-Cola Foundation, Truist Trusted Foundations, Georgia Power, Norfolk Southern, the Home Depot Foundation and some anonymous donors. The park also has funding from the Atlanta Beltline Tax Allocation District, state funds and city infrastructure bonds.
The recent contributions made construction possible, but Enota Park is still $1.3 million short in necessary private funds to complete the design and transform the lot into a fully connected park. Atlanta Beltline, Inc. CEO and President Clyde Higgs said the park is positioned to be “another gem in the Beltline Emerald Necklace” as originally planned.
Westview residents see it as a future community hub for the park. Previously Westview neighborhood President Dustin Mitchell-Scott said the years-long effort of residents and Beltline leaders would provide gathering spaces and opportunities for generations to come. Other residents felt the same.
“As we embrace new changes and welcome Enota Park, we are not just adding a park — we are investing in the heart and soul of our neighborhood,” Westview resident Dion Stanford said. “This park represents more than just land; it represents the next chapter of Westview, a place where the next generation can create memories, just as I did growing up here.”
Beltline and city leaders said the Earth Day ceremony represented the park’s environmental focus. The project will restore Proctor Creek, which flows through the future park, and will help ecological health around the waterway. The park will also have a vegetate retention basin to manage stormwater and landscaping with irrigation systems.
“This expansion transforms a small park into acres of recreational space that will also serve as an inviting gateway to the Westview neighborhood,” Higgs said. “As we celebrate Earth Day, we’re particularly proud of the environmental stewardship embedded in this project, from creek restoration to sustainable stormwater management.”
Construction of the new park has officially kicked off, marking the start of an exciting community project. Site preparation, including grading and clearing, is the first step to create a safe and accessible space. Plans include walking paths, playgrounds, green areas, and seating for visitors of all ages. Landscaping and planting trees will enhance the park’s natural beauty and provide shade. Once completed, the park will serve as a recreational hub, promoting outdoor activities and community engagement.