By Hannah E. Jones
The Chattahoochee RiverLands initiative is one step closer to coming to fruition. The Trust for Public Land (TPL) recently purchased 8.6 acres in Cobb County along the Chattahoochee River that will serve as one link in the chain of parks and trails that form the RiverLands.
The Chattahoochee RiverLands is a regional initiative spearheaded by TPL — a vision to create 100 miles of an uninterrupted linear network of trails, parks and green spaces from the Buford Dam to the Chattahoochee Bend State Park. Eventually, the network will touch 19 cities and seven counties, reaching one million residents within three miles of the trail system. Currently, about 70 percent of the 100-mile RiverLands is in public hands.
The land will eventually serve as a regional trailhead park and is a relatively flat, high plateau that overlooks the river. Situated at the corner of Mableton Parkway and Discovery Boulevard, the RiverLands Regional Trailhead Park will connect to the Mableton Parkway Trail — which is currently under construction — and will serve as a direct passage from the Chattahoochee to the Silver Comet Trail. TPL Chattahoochee Program Director Walt Ray calls it the “knuckle between two really great projects.”
“This site in particular is an opportunity to [help] balance the inequities between the north metro suburbs, which have abundant access, and the south metro suburbs which have little, if any, access to the river and its banks,” Ray said.
The team is still brainstorming design plans for the park and is considering a few features, including a kayak launch, a playground, a pavilion, restrooms and a parking lot. TPL will also host community engagement opportunities this summer for residents to give their input.
“We are really trying to make it easier and safer for people to get into and out of the river,” Ray said. “It’s not just a greenway trail, it’s the blueway trail too.”
Community feedback is a key component of this process, and residents will be able to help lead the charge with choosing park amenities.
“Parks are better when they’re designed to reflect the community they serve,” Ray said. “We want to work with the community to build a park they want, not inflict a park upon them.”
While TPL wants to increase access to the outdoors for metro Atlanta residents, they don’t want to jeopardize the health of the environment. The team is committed to preserving and improving the natural landscape and, through a partnership with Georgia Audubon and a grant from Coca-Cola, will remove invasive plant species that are harmful to local wildlife. They will also implement green infrastructure to efficiently capture stormwater.
Currently, TPL is focused on hiring a design team and applying for state funding through the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program. The RiverLands Regional Trailhead Park is expected to open in 2026 and will likely be donated to Cobb County Parks and Recreation to maintain the space for public use. If you’re interested in learning more about the Chattahoochee RiverLands initiative, click here.
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