Chattahoochee Brick Co. & Atlanta Reach/riverlands
Memorial, Greenspace, Park, and Trail Network
SiTE Conditions:
Remains of the past
Environmental Remediation
Explore the site’s history
The Chattahoochee Brick Company, owned by former Atlanta Mayor James W. English, supplied bricks for the construction of industrial buildings and city of Atlanta infrastructure, such as roads and sewers starting in 1885. The factory used leased convict labor, forcing primarily African American men, who were often arrested under petty or dubious charges, to work under brutal, sometimes fatal, conditions to produce a profit for the company’s owners. The Chattahoochee Brick Company ceased operations in 1972 and General Shale Brick, its successor, demolished all of the buildings in 2011.
The City purchased the site of the former factory in August of 2022 with the intent to create a public greenspace and memorial to those who labored and died here. The planning for the use and design of the site will be a public process with all welcome to participate. See below to add your name to the contact list.
CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVERLANDS AND ATLANTA REACH
Atlanta lies at the midpoint of the network with about 4 miles of riverfront. The Chattahoochee RiverLands is a vision for an activated metropolitan river corridor: a network of greenways, a blueway (the river itself), tributary trails, and parks—all working together to connect people to the outdoors. When completed, it will link 19 cities and seven counties and include 42 water access points and eight campsites. The Trust For Public Land created this vision and is coordinating the efforts of cities and counties along the river to bring it to life. Click here to learn more about the Riverlands.
Atlanta Reach
While the Chattahoochee RiverLands Study presents a regional vision, significant work remains to advance this vision locally. There are approximately 7 miles of Chattahoochee riverfront along the western edge of the City of Atlanta. Approximately four miles of that riverfront, dubbed the ‘Atlanta Reach’ will be activated as part of the Chattahoochee RiverLands.
This stretch of the river will be one the most accessible in the region, with up to 3 potential water access points along the Blueway Paddle trail, 5 proposed greenway trailheads, 4 future regional trail connections, and 15 existing bus stops within a 15-minute walk. This segment of the RiverLands will also complete connections with many regional trails including the Atlanta BeltLine, the Silver Comet Trail, the Whetstone Creek Trail, and the Proctor Creek Greenway as well as a RiverLands trail segment being advanced on the Cobb County side of the river.
The City of Atlanta received funding from ARC to conduct a scoping study for the Atlanta Reach portion of the Chattahoochee RiverLands. The purpose of the scoping study is to further refine the preferred alignment of the Chattahoochee RiverLands trail. The study will also consider and make informed decisions about the location and purpose of any new park spaces, river access points, and balance the restoration of the river’s ecosystem and remediation of former industrial sites with greater access to the natural amenities provided by the Chattahoochee River.
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previous Events
Chattahoochee Brick Company Memorial, Greenspace, and Park Board Meetings Dates and Minutes
Chattahoochee Brick Community Education Series | February - June 2024 Click here for more info.