The Atlanta Botanical Garden plans to break ground in September on a nearly 8-acre expansion that will make it contiguous with the Atlanta Beltline, where it will open a second entrance on the popular 22-mile trail.

When completed in 2029, the expansion, which will enlarge the Garden by nearly 30 percent, will feature European garden-inspired water terraces, display gardens and gushing fountains as well as a new streetscape
along Piedmont Avenue. The overall design will feature the addition of more than 800 new trees, including two dozen along the new Piedmont greenspace alone.
“The start of construction marks a defining moment in the Garden’s history. Our expansion and new Beltline entrance will create an entirely new way for visitors to experience the Garden while expanding our capacity to educate, inspire and connect people with the natural world,” Garden President & CEO Mary Pat Matheson said. “After more than a decade of perseverance through economic headwinds and unforeseen circumstances, it’s incredibly rewarding to see this bold vision becoming a reality.”

This fall, passersby will notice quite a transformation north of the main entrance along bustling Piedmont Avenue where several commercial properties have been purchased and razed, and crews prepare the steep-terrain site for construction. The work will include removal of about 200 trees, many of which are dead, diseased, invasive species or small-caliper “weed trees.”

The Garden will plant more than 800 new trees, more than half of them native varieties more suitable for the Southeastern climate, as the Garden anticipates future impact of a warming planet. The plantings will
result in a net gain of nearly 400,000 square feet of new canopy.

“The goal is to highlight diversity in what we’re planting, including replanting of a lot of native hardwoods,” said Scott McMahan, Vice President, Horticulture & Collections.

A major component of the plan is the new streetscape along the site’s western Piedmont Avenue border, adding even more greenspace along the busy corridor. New sidewalks and landscaping will include 24 additional trees such as oaks and hickories as well as camellias, azaleas, hydrangeas and other ornamental shrubs for screening the property’s fencing.
The Garden has raised $149 million through a capital campaign for funding the expansion project, which will make the Garden the first major cultural attraction directly accessible from the Beltline.

The additional entrance will begin with the Beltline Plaza, outside the Garden gates—a dynamic programming space that will allow a variety of free, mission-oriented programs and community engagement opportunities for people of all ages. The new Beltline-facing Visitor Center will feature an indoor/outdoor café, gift shop, bicycle parking and other amenities for guests to enjoy.

Inside the gates, a series of immersive experiences will be organized along a central Grand Axis, providing a strong linear sightline through the center of the expansion site, with dramatic views between garden rooms. From the majestic Water Terraces near the Arrival Court, through the enchanting Walled Garden and up to the dramatic Fountain Garden on the property’s highest point, visitors will delight in exploring Atlanta’s new world-class greenspace.

For more information, visit atlantabg.org.