By Caleb Weinstock

Plans are in progress for the Bellwood Quarry in West Atlanta to convert into a fully functioning and expansive park.

The Department for Parks and Recreation of Atlanta announced that the beginning phase of the new park will be open to the public within two years. The first phase is small compared to the expected entire park. The total finished park will add up to 280 acres, almost 100 acres bigger than Atlanta’s current biggest park, Piedmont Park.

Grady’s student population from the Westside is excited about the new developments.

“I am really looking forward to use the new park,” freshman Jack Di Carlo said. “It’s exciting because of the people and business it will bring to around the neighborhood.” 

The ambitious plan for the quarry was announced by former mayor Kasim Reed in one his last press conferences.

“Our Westside residents deserve best-in-class parks and infrastructure, and with this project, we are delivering on our promise,” Reed said.

The entire park will have a large price tag, with phase one already costing 26.5 million dollars. However, this phase will include a large overhead gateway entrance at the intersection of Johnson Road and Grove Park Place, trails through the park and a pedestrian walkway connecting the nearby Proctor Creek Greenway.

Students are happy that the city is putting more resources towards parks department.

“With all the commercial construction going on, I’m really glad to see some new, fun parks for everybody,” Senior Aaron Burras said.

In later phases, there are plans to build a large overlook of the entire park and city skyline. The park will likely become a popular Atlanta park with plenty of visitors as it is planned to be a stop on the Atlanta Beltline, a path that will wrap around the entirety of the city.

“I think, at least at Grady, that the Westside is part of the city too so I am glad the city is doing something for our part of town, and I’m excited to see what comes from it,” Di Carlo said.

The center of the park will have a large reservoir of water that is tunneled in from the Chattahoochee river which connects the Hemphill water treatment plan. The tunnel, which will connect the three, is expected to be completed in the upcoming years.

The plan for the new reservoir is taking place as a safety plan for the city with two billion gallons of water which would last the city up to 30 days of water in case of emergency.