On a humid Monday afternoon with just a hint of summer showers in the air, neighbors gathered at Lena Street to mark a moment years in the making: the opening of Segment 4 of the Atlanta Beltline’s Westside Trail.
With Mayor Andre Dickens, community leaders, and Beltline champions on hand, the crowd celebrated not just a ribbon-cutting—but a new connection between communities that have long shaped Atlanta’s identity.
“This is the longest continuous section of the Beltline that we’ve built,” said Mayor Dickens, standing before a crowd of nearly 100. “Today’s ribbon cutting brings us nearly seven miles of paved trail stretching from Pittsburgh Yards all the way to Huff Road. That’s real progress—real connection—for the Westside.”
The newly opened 1.3-mile segment extends from the existing trail terminus at Lena Street north to Wheeler Street. It links directly into the Westside Beltline Connector, which winds toward downtown and the area surrounding Mercedes-Benz Stadium—timed perfectly for the global spotlight of the FIFA World Cup 26™.
But the mayor emphasized the trail is not just for international visitors. “This trail connects Washington Park, Hunter Hills, and Bankhead,” he said. “Kids can walk to school safely. Families can spend time outdoors. People can get to jobs, businesses, and transit without needing a car.”
For Mayor Dickens, the milestone is personal. “I grew up here in Atlanta. I served on the Beltline board as a council member, and now as your mayor. These trails, these homes, these businesses… this is how we build a stronger and more connected city.”
Washington Park—one of Atlanta’s first planned Black neighborhoods—now enjoys direct access to West Midtown, downtown, public parks, schools, and employment centers. The trail also features ADA-compliant design, improved lighting, safety cameras, signage, and space for art and entrepreneurship.
“This is what it means to move Atlanta forward,” the mayor continued. “To build with purpose and vision. So that folks of all ages and backgrounds can come together.”
The event included remarks from Councilmember Byron Amos, Atlanta Public Schools Board Chair Erika Mitchell, Fulton County Commissioners Khadijah Abdur-Rahman and Mo Ivory, and Washington Park Conservancy Chair Christi Jackson. Each leader spoke to the importance of connection—not only of trails and sidewalks, but of people, places, and possibility.
As the city approaches the finish line on the full 22-mile Beltline loop—85% of which is now complete or under construction—Mayor Dickens highlighted the scale of the investment: nearly $100 million in trail construction, over $40 million in affordable housing, $8 million for transit, and additional support for parks, small businesses, and the arts.
Last year alone, the Beltline surpassed its affordable housing goal by delivering 569 units, reinforcing the city’s broader vision of building “A City of Opportunity for All.”
“This trail is more than pavement,” Mayor Dickens concluded. “It’s a symbol of what’s possible when we build together. And we’re not done yet.”
Then, with shovels in hand and smiles all around, the ribbon was cut—another mile forward for the city and its people.
