Atlanta project to extend walking trails to Sandy Springs receives full funding

Caption

The Peachtree Park Neighborhood entrance to Path400 is seen in Buckhead, on Atlanta's north end. The trail will connect to Sandy Springs, north of Atlanta.

Credit: Liveable Buckhead / Instagram

Atlanta City Council approved two measures allocating $1.7 million in federal funding to the Path400 project connecting the Buckhead neighborhood to Sandy Springs.

The money from Federal Highway Administration will pay for construction on two trail extensions along Ga. Highway 400, completing the path. The first segment, extending the path to Loridans Park, is scheduled to be completed in June.

Denise Starling leads the nonprofit Livable Buckhead, which manages the Path400 project. She said trails are important for economic development and provide more commuter options.

“We connect to three transit stations and connect between Buckhead's central business district, and you know, get that all to where you can use the trail for your commute into Buckhead,” she said. “We're even going to be able to go from one mall to another.”

The final trail extension will extend from Lordains Park to Sandy Springs, connecting Phipps Plaza to Perimeter Mall.  

Starling said construction isn’t the only project on the calendar. Path400 is also planning social events on the path.

“A lot of times people will go, drive home, pull in their garage, go inside, go to their backyard, and they don't have the opportunities to really meet their neighbors, connect with them and create that social fabric" that community really needs, she said.

Liveable Buckhead hosts programs throughout the year such as the upcoming BuckheadRUN 5K in May to show the community how to use the Path400 and encourage connection.