Atlanta Memorial Park Master Plan

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Atlanta Memorial Park Master Plan

Following a historic flood in 2009, Atlanta Memorial Park was in desperate need of revitalization. Damage from the flood added decades of neglect in the form of dying trees, invasive plants and eroded walking trails. The portion of Peachtree Creek running through the park was an environmental and ecological hazard to wildlife and people and prone to damaging flooding, erosion and sewer spills.

HGOR assisted the AMPC with a long-term visioning process and provided sustainable solutions for the deteriorating landscape. HGOR began the restoration process by spearheading a six-month public input and participation exercise. Working in a transparent and education-based format, this input was transformed into key design options that were presented in a series of follow-up workshops.

Ultimately, three ideas were identified for improvements - green space, watershed and connectivity. The final plan called for increase in passive green space for flexible programming, a pedestrian trail system, and enhancements to Bobby Jones Golf Course and Bitsy Grant Tennis Center.

The end result provided the community with a revolutionary golf course design and a state-of-the-art tennis complex with 12 courts that sit atop a 350 below-grade parking deck featuring three lighted platform courts, a warming hut and a platform viewing deck. A stormwater management area is tucked below deck, concealing it from view and reducing overall development footprint. The tennis center was considered phase I of the Master Plan while further services resulted in tree canopy restoration, including green infrastructure projects and invasive species removal.