Chattahoochee RiverLands Camp and Paddle Trail SignLocals and visitors to the city of Atlanta can now enjoy a natural amenity that for too long has not been accessible – the Chattahoochee River.
This is all thanks to the diligent efforts of city officials, coupled with the long-term vision of other groups, including the non-profit organization Trust for Public Land (TPL).
In early December of 2024, the two entities celebrated the opening of Atlanta’s very first public access point to the Chattahoochee River with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony. Dubbed “Standing Peachtree Greenspace,” the site gives unprecedented access to the “Hooch” as it is affectionately known. The site now includes features like a fully accessible path to reach the river, a floating dock with kayak launch, and other road upgrades and woodland restoration measures. It will also function as the most northern point of the Chattahoochee Camp+Paddle Trail.
The initiative is a shining example of how nonprofit and public entities can work together to benefit the greater community. Even better, it is but one prong of the larger Chattahoochee RiverLands project, which at its eventual conception aims to connect a whopping 19 cities spanning seven counties. The connection of similar projects will allow users to bicycle, camp, wheel, kayak and more along the river.
“The cornerstone of this project is our belief that communities are stronger, healthier and more connected when everyone is able to get outside and engage with nature,” said Walt Ray, Chattahoochee Program Director with TPL. “The RiverLands will offer a unique opportunity for neighbors, families and visitors to meet, travel and explore parks and trails along our beloved river.”
The Standing Peachtree Greenspace, in particular, also addresses inequities in access to this natural resource. “While the Chattahoochee can be accessed in many places in the northern suburbs, people in communities south of Peachtree Creek, and this includes Atlanta, have very few opportunities to connect with this natural resource,” Ray explains. “We’re excited that historically underserved neighborhoods will be connected to the RiverLands, opening opportunities for new public spaces and parks to be created.”
December 2024 ribbon cutting for Atlanta’s very first public access point to the Chattahoochee River.The inequity was officially spotted during a thorough evaluation that TPL conducted in concert with 80-plis stakeholders, including various cities, counties, and the Atlanta Regional Commission, spanning the geographic area from Buford Dam to Chattahoochee Bend State Park. Before the opening of Standing Peachtree Greenspace, access to the river was difficult to find from Atlanta down south without trespassing on private property. The resulting report, known as the 2020 Chattahoochee RiverLands Study, noted this disparity and made plans to correct it as part of a strategy to turn their river into, “a transformative outdoor recreation destination with 100 miles of parks, trails and amenities,” per Ray.
Now, thanks to the efforts of many, the public can access and enjoy the Chattahoochee River by way of the kayak launch in Peachtree Creek, which Ray says is very near to the confluence with the larger river. This is, as Ray says, “a pretty incredible milestone in the realization of the entire 100-mile Chattahoochee River Lands vision.”
Moving Forward with the Chattahoochee Riverlands
Standing Peachtree Creek is only one part of a much larger-scale project that will likely take generations to realize, Ray said. Fortunately, the many cities impacted are enthusiastic about making progress. On a monthly basis, TPL holds meetings of the Chattahoochee Working Group, which is comprised of representatives from almost 80 cities, counties, federal agencies and state agencies. Nonprofit groups with a special interest in the Chattahoochee also participate.
City engagement, in particular, is key to the effort and varies in scope. “Some, we simply keep updated or collect information from—to track progress and forward momentum. Others, we advise more closely,” Ray explained. “And of course, we have formal agreements with a handful of cities to deliver parts of the RiverLands vision.”
This collaboration is key, as Ray said that TPL cannot build out the Chattahoochee RiverLands all on its own. “We serve as a champion for the initiative—a convener and sometimes even a contractor—whatever is needed to maintain the forward momentum toward building Georgia’s signature public space, the Chattahoochee RiverLands.”