Atlanta’s plan to build a deck park, which will reconnect neighborhoods separated by the Downtown Connector, is now closer to becoming a reality. The project has received $157.6 million in federal funding.
Why is it important: The Stitch is an ambitious project that aims to fix the damage caused to mostly Black neighborhoods when the interstate system was built through them in the 1940s and ’50s.
The Stitch project plans to build a green space platform covering 14 acres above the Connector, which connects the Civic Center MARTA Center at West Peachtree Street and Piedmont Avenue.
The initial stage of the project is expected to cost $199 million. It will involve creating new park areas, improving downtown streets, and enhancing connectivity to the MARTA station.
According to Stitch Development Manager Jack Cebe, the Downtown Atlanta community has been wanting The Stitch for 20 years. He mentioned that the federal investment will help turn this dream into a reality for the city.
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The funding was announced on Tuesday by the offices of Rep. Nikema Williams and Sens. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff. It comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods grant program.
Additionally, $50 million was given to connect the Atlanta Beltline to the Flint River Trail. This will create a connection between the city and the communities surrounding Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
We are currently observing the construction progress of the first phase of The Stitch. It is anticipated to begin in 2026 and be completed by 2029.
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