Chattahoochee RiverLands
The Chattahoochee RiverLands is a generational vision for a 125-mile greenway, blueway, and network of open spaces reconnecting over 1 million residents with the Chattahoochee River across the Metro Atlanta Region.
Developed over two years and underpinned by a tremendous engagement effort encompassing over a hundred meetings with more than 290 local groups, the vision stitches together open spaces into an uninterrupted multi-modal trail—expanding connectivity and economic development opportunities in Metro Atlanta communities that have historically lacked access to the river. Already, the vision has spurred over $169 million in investment and inspired state and federal policy initiatives.
The Chattahoochee River has shaped Atlanta for centuries — sustaining indigenous communities, powering industry, and defining the region's geography. Yet decades of development left much of its urban reach inaccessible, particularly to West Atlanta communities that were historically cut off from the river's edge.
By 2018, with environmental advocacy and grassroots momentum building for generations, the region was ready to reimagine what a return to the river could look like. SCAPE was hired to lead the masterplan.
Unanimously adopted by a regional planning agency in 2020, the vision builds on over 50 years of grassroots planning and environmental advocacy, re-examining 1970s-era policy to drastically expand river access and connectivity while also incorporating ecological restoration initiatives.
Unanimously adopted by a regional planning agency in 2020, the vision builds on over 50 years of grassroots planning and environmental advocacy, re-examining 1970s-era policy to drastically expand river access and connectivity while also incorporating ecological restoration initiatives.
Following adoption of the vision, SCAPE developed a companion Design Guidelines document—a playbook for the state agencies, local governments, engineers, and trail organizations who will build, operate, and maintain the RiverLands over decades of phased construction.
The guidelines address everything from trail typologies and universal access to material selection, signage, and long-term maintenance — creating a unified, immersive experience across all 125 miles.
Developed in collaboration with the Chattahoochee Working Group and a locally appointed Technical Advisory Committee, recommendations are broken out into a wide range of elements both macro (trail typologies and ADA compliance) and micro (material selection, signage, and furnishings) in scale.
Ultimately, the Design Guidelines are a playbook for the state agencies, local governments, engineering and design teams, and trail organizations who will build, operate, and maintain component sections of the RiverLands—a strong, recognizable identity that provides optionality for the greenway’s construction over time.
Ultimately, the Design Guidelines are a playbook for the state agencies, local governments, engineering and design teams, and trail organizations who will build, operate, and maintain component sections of the RiverLands—a strong, recognizable identity that provides optionality for the greenway’s construction over time.
One of the most populated segments of the 125-mile vision, the Atlanta Reach will be activated as a highly accessible portion of the Chattahoochee RiverLands.
One of the most populated segments of the 125-mile vision, the Atlanta Reach will be activated as a highly accessible portion of the Chattahoochee RiverLands.
Atlanta lies at the midpoint of the Chattahoochee RiverLands network with about 4 miles of riverfront, dubbed the "Atlanta Reach". At the heart of the segment lies the site of former Chattahoochee Brick Company—a place of profound historical significance.
Since the vision’s adoption, the project has made significant advancements—including over $169 million in investment to acquire new properties and build pilot projects, including the SCAPE-led showcase site, the Chattahoochee RiverLands Regional Trailhead Park.
The 13-acre Regional Trailhead Park features large-scale open space, active and passive recreation, and direct water access through a boat ramp and ADA-accessible kayak launch — a precedent for future sites along the corridor.
The 13-acre Regional Trailhead Park features large-scale open space, active and passive recreation, and direct water access through a boat ramp and ADA-accessible kayak launch — a precedent for future sites along the corridor.
Altogether, the Chattahoochee RiverLands encompasses a user base of 1 million residents living within 3 miles of the trail system and advances a new generational legacy of social and environmental advocacy along the river. Learn more about the Connective Power of Rivers.
Client
Trust for Public Land (TPL)
Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC)
City of Atlanta, Georgia
Cobb County, Georgia
Collaborators
Gresham Smith
New South Associates
Biohabitats
Dr. Na’Taki Osbourne Jelks
Dr. Richard Milligan
Edwards Pittman
Regional Trailhead
Sherwood Design Engineers (Civil)
BLDGS (Architecture)
Palacio Collaborative (Cost Estimating)
AP Advertising & Public Relations (Community Outreach Lead)
Awards
ASLA Professional Awards: Honor Award – Analysis & Planning (2023)
ASLA-GA: Excellence Award – Analysis & Planning (2023)
ASLA-NY: Honor Award – Analysis, Planning, Research & Communications (2021)
ASLA-KY: Merit Award – Analysis & Planning (2021)
APA-GA: Outstanding Planning Document (2020)
American Web Design Award (2020)
Georgia Water Coalition: Clean 13 Award (2020)
Press
For questions, please contact SCAPE
press@scapestudio.com
“Our River, Reimagined” by Kate Sweeney in Atlanta Regional Commission.
“Reveal the River” by Jonathan Lerner, cover story in Landscape Architecture Magazine.
“Improving River Recreation Without Gentrification in Atlanta” by Adina Solomon in Next City.
“Chattahoochee Plan Envisions Connecting Metro Atlanta With The River” listen to WABE's (NPR) story.
