Peachtree Creek Greenway grand opening marks major milestone

Phase I “Model Mile” now open to the public

Brookhaven, GA, Dec. 13, 2019 -- A bright, brisk winter day became the perfect backdrop for the grand opening and ribbon cutting of the new Peachtree Creek Greenway on Dec. 12. Attended by over 100 invited guests and residents, the historic milestone marked the completion of the first phase of the greenway initiative and set the stage for the beginning of phase two of the greenway.

Strategically located along the sparkling waters of Peachtree Creek, representatives from federal, state, county and local levels of government attended the opening as Brookhaven Mayor John Ernst set the pace for the event. The presentation of colors was conducted by the Cross Keys High School NJROTC.

“When we broke ground a year ago to this day, I told you that the acronym PCG also stands for ‘People Collaborating to achieve Goals’” noted Ernst. “We are calling this the Model Mile of the PCG – but we used to call it the Miracle Mile because people thought it would take a miracle to build a multi-use path in the middle of a densely populated area.  But we did it.  We all did it.  We did it through collaboration, partnerships, blood, sweat and sometimes tears.”

Throughout the ceremony, Ernst and City Council Member Joe Gebbia ensured that all of the key players were recognized including members of: The Salvation Army; The PCG Steering Committee; Peachtree Creek Greenway, Inc.; The Path Foundation; Kaizen Collaborative (who designed the greenway); Lewallen Construction (who built the greenway); Capital Signs; Georgia Power; Georgia DOT; Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta; Emory Healthcare and the Latin American Association.

Also playing major roles throughout the project were Brookhaven Councilmembers Gebbia, Bates Mattison, Linley Jones and John Park. Additional special recognition was given to two others who play key roles in the vision, creation and development of the PCG:  Betsy Eggers and Ed McBrayer.

The vision for the PCG dates back nearly two decades to its first reference in a PATH Foundation study. Shortly after the City of Brookhaven was created in 2012, local community activist Eggers and others banded together and proposed to the new city’s leaders the idea for a bicycle path and a linear park along Peachtree Creek. This proposal was followed by months of discussion, master planning, creation of the Peachtree Creek Greenway, Inc., and taking the necessary steps to move the idea along the legislative and funding process at all levels.

“Ed McBrayer and a few friends formed the PATH Foundation in 1991,” Gebbia recalled. “Their  vision and commitment to providing Atlantans  ‘a pleasant place to ride’ was an inspiration for what is now recognized as one of the most transformational urban renewal movements in the country—the Atlanta Regional Trail System.”

The $10 million pathway stretches from Briarwood Road to North Druid Hills Road. Phase I consists of 1.27 miles of Brookhaven’s three-phase 2.9-mile portion of the initiative. It will stretch from North Druid Hills Road to Briarwood Road and will include a series of paved multi-purpose and promenade trails.  When Phase I and II are completed, the Brookhaven segment will connect southward toward PATH400, the South Fork Conservancy Trails and the Atlanta BeltLine.

Phase III will ultimately further position connectivity northward beyond Brookhaven to Mercer

University in unincorporated DeKalb County. When fully built, the PCG will stretch 12.3 miles reaching from Doraville to the Atlanta BeltLine. Local municipalities that the trail passes through such as Chamblee and Doraville will be responsible for funding and building their respective portions of the Greenway.

As each phase is completed, residents will have for their enjoyment a multi-use trail that will provide alternate transportation, enhance the environment, encourage economic opportunities and promote healthy lifestyles for those along its growing corridor.

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Media Contact:
Burke Brennan
Communications Director
404-637-0709
Burke.Brennan@BrookhavenGA.gov