August 2026 Newsletter

August 2026, Issue #119

Connecting Communities Across Georgia along 350+ Miles of Trails

Chastain Park Jogging Trail See page 2

PATH Foundation A Non-Profit Organization Dedicated to Planning and Building Greenway Trails

Chastain Park Jogging Trail

O

ne summer day in 1990, PATH was scouting out places to propose trails with Alycen Whiddon, from the city planning office, when we noticed a group jogging alongside Chastain Park in the gutter of Lake Forest Road.

We observed the same thing when we went to the other side of the park, along Powers Ferry Road. As we developed the master plan for trails in the city, we intended to include a trail on the periphery of the park regardless if it connected to other trails we were proposing or not. We reasoned that with the number of people running in the gutters we had seen that day, it would be an oversight not to build a trail for them to use.

Maxine Rock, the co-founder of PATH, volunteered to take us to see her good friend, Elliott Galloway and Alycen would approach American Golf, who had leased the bulk of the park from the city for a golf course. The Chastain Park Civic Association and Neighborhood 2 | PATHFoundation.org

Planning Unit-B had to be on board as well. Pete and I did our ‘dog and pony show’ to satisfy those requirements. The NPU meeting precipitated another meeting with neighbors along Lake Forest who still had concerns about a trail right across the road from them.

PATH was asked to attend a meeting at one of the concerned neighbors’ houses to answer questions regarding the impact the trail was going to have on them. Looking back, it was almost comical; some of the questions fielded that night were, “Who is gonna pick up all the beer cans; How were we gonna keep people from peeing on their lawns; Was there gonna be an ordinance governing how loud you could play your boomboxes?”

Finally, the day came; the day we started construction along Lake Forest Road. The band of naysayers from the meeting did everything to impede construction including tearing up

forms, throwing objects into freshly poured concrete and harassing crews. We called Planning Commissioner Leon Eplan to verify the trail was sanctioned by the city and the police to get these people out of our way. Leon and the police arrived and the trail prevailed!

The trail at Chastain Park was built in multiple phases and benefited from a variety of funding sources. We could always count on the James M. Cox Foundation and the Katherine John Murphy Foundation to chip in when we were ready to build another segment. Back then, it was like completing the Silver Comet Trail; completing the trail around the park had to get done.

When the American Legion Post declined to let the trail cross their driveway off Powers Ferry Road, American Golf said if you plant Azaleas behind the 13th green and erect a safety net along the fairway to the 12th hole, they will allow us passage to the Powers Ferry sidewalk. The loop around the park was slowly coming together.

The next phase to be built was, oddly enough, brought to us by the Galloways. They made us aware of property they owned, east of the amphitheater, that contained a lake. We investigated the offer and found a seldom used, one lane road to the new playground the city was building. This phase had the added potential to connect the parking lot on Power’s Ferry to the

We learned a lot about trail building at Chastain. It was our first of many collaborations with multiple partners to build a trail... We demonstrated to the citizens of Atlanta the need for trails.”

rest of the park and would provide an innovative way to handle the runoff during design.

To get the phase along Powers Ferry Road built, it involved moving power poles from the American Legion’s driveway to the tennis center, a $500,000 task in 2014, and a bridge over Nancy Creek. A standard city sidewalk had completed the loop around the golf course for several years.

The popularity of the loop made improvement of the sidewalk connection a must.

The final segment of the loop to be improved was along Wieuca to connect Lake Forest with Powers Ferry. A standard city sidewalk was replaced by a PATH trail, after the infrastructure was relocated. The sidewalk had closed the loop for almost a decade and was converted to a trail to handle the volume of users. The resulting loop around the golf course is a perfect 5K. We learned a lot about trail building at Chastain. It was our first of many collaborations with multiple partners to build a trail. We ordered our first metal, prefab bridge for crossing a small creek on phase 1. We demonstrated to the citizens of Atlanta the need for trails. Today, it remains one of our most popular trails.

Today Chastain Park continues to make it an even more unique and special park in the middle of Atlanta by revitalizing 30 acres of greenspace previously undeveloped. Once complete, there will be more open spaces and trails in addition to scenic overlooks and an outdoor classroom.

For more information visit the Chastain Park Conservancy page and read about The Palisades Project. l August 2026 | 3

PROJECT UPDATES

Scan for more updates on Beltline projects.

PLANNING AND DESIGN Adams Park This 1.4-mile trail will start at Cascade Road and end at Campbellton Road and will include a “safe route” for children attending Cascade Elementary School. Together with our Atlanta DOT partners, construction should begin in the Summer of 2027.

Atlanta Riverlands Trail over the Chattahoochee at the RM Clayton Water Plant.

Peachtree Creek Greenway This 0.7-mile trail will serve as a critical link in the region’s growing trail network, extending the Brookhaven trail system while providing seamless connections to PATH400 and the Atlanta Beltline. The project is expected to be fully permitted by early 2027, with construction anticipated to begin in early 2028.

Proctor Creek 4 Design and permitting continue on this project as we aim to have construction begin at the end of 2026. This trail will add 2.4-miles to the existing trail in District 9.

Southwest Beltline Connector (Phase 4) Connecting the Lionel Hampton Trail to John A. White Park is progressing through the City of Atlanta permitting process and is in final review with the Bureau of Buildings. This project will enable residents to access the Atlanta Beltline.

PATH400 north of Loridans Drive looking south.

Westside Connector (Hollowell Trail) A new pedestrian bridge will be erected at the same location as the old and permanently closed Bankhead Avenue Bridge. PATH is working with the City of Atlanta, CSX and Norfolk Southern on permitting this very complicated project with many layers of design and permitting. This bridge will link the Westside Beltline Connector to PATH Parkway on the Georgia Tech campus.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION Atlanta Riverlands All 3 of the bridge structures included in this project will be installed this summer. Crews are beginning to pour trail on the Standing Peachtree Park side.

PATH400 (Loridans to Sandy Springs) Crews have completed the large MSE (mechanically stabilized earth) switchback walls and have started prepping for the trail to be poured.

SCC at Logan Circle ready for concrete.

4 | PATHFoundation.org

Silver Comet Connector (Segments 2 & 3) One of the three bridges on this project has been set with the other two to follow this summer. This unique project flosses through the already built out community where folks can connect into the Silver Comet Trail or the Atlanta Beltline. Completion will be summer of 2027. l

2026 Annual Report Highlights

350+

TOTAL MILES OF TRAILS

8.4

9

NEW MILES OF TRAILS

COMPLETED TRAIL SEGMENTS

Trails/Segments Completed

Financial Review

• Silver Comet Connector (MacArthur Blvd.)

INCOME FYE MARCH 2026

• Silver Comet Connector (Atlanta Road) • Silver Comet Connector (Seg 1) • PATH400 – Wieuca to Loridans

Public Funding

$10,965,971

59.08%

Capital Campaign FY26

$3,252,744

17.52%

Capital Campaign Future Yrs* $1,772,256

9.55%

Annual Fund

$1,019,654

5.49%

Private Funding/Other Income $1,550,140

8.35%

TOTAL INCOME

$18,560,766

100.00%

• NW Beltline (Seg 5)

EXPENSES FYE MARCH 2026

• NW Beltline (Seg 3A)

Construction of Trails**

$16,196,809

88.68%

• LaGrange Thread Clock Tower

Project Management

$1,175,834

6.43%

Administrative

$614,044

3.36%

• LaGrange Thread George Harris

Fundraising

$238,131

1.30%

Trail Improvements

$39,201

0.21%

• Capital Westlake

TOTAL EXPENSES

$18,264,020

100.00%

* Capital Campaign grants received dedicated to future trail construction. ** FY26 construction expenses were partially funded by grants recorded in prior years.

95.34% of donations go to building trails F O R T H E F U L L A N N U A L R E P O R T, V I S I T O U R W E B S I T E I N O C T O B E R 2 0 2 6 .

August 2026 | 5

Remembering Ed

Edwin Eugene McBrayer, Jr. On March 20, 2026, the PATH Foundation (and all that knew him) lost a great man. Ed McBrayer passed away at home and left us to carry on a mission and passion that he started 35+ years ago.

Ed was a visionary civic leader whose work transformed Atlanta and the Southeast through trails and greenways. A Georgia Tech graduate in Aerospace Engineering, he co-founded the PATH Foundation in 1991, interlinking greenway trails to connect people to nature, recreation and community.

Under his leadership, PATH built more than 340 miles of trails, facilitated public-private partnerships across the region and elevated Atlanta’s quality of life for generations to come. Ed and PATH were one of the first early champions of the Atlanta Beltline.

Because of Ed, millions enjoy safe, inspiring greenspaces daily and his legacy will continue shaping and moving Atlanta forward for decades to come. He will be dearly missed and left very big shoes to fill.

6 | PATHFoundation.org

Scan to learn more about Ed’s life and legacy.

MANY MILES AHEAD

By Greta deMayo, Executive Director

Pictured L-R: Wendell York, Greta deMayo, Suzanne Scully, Ed McBrayer, Stacy Patton and Beth Marks.

P

ATH has always been about more than just trails.

Since co-founding PATH in 1991, Ed understood that every mile represented something greater: a child safely commuting to school, neighbors meeting up with one another, people of all abilities enjoying the outdoors and communities choosing connection over division.

Recently, Wendell, Ed’s husband, shared a note I had written to Ed years ago. Reading it reminded me how much his leadership shaped not only PATH but the people fortunate enough to work beside him.

Ed’s greatest legacy wasn’t simply the miles of trail he helped create. It was the culture he built.

Today, our team continues to lead with curiosity, collaboration and an unwavering belief that strong partnerships create lasting change. Those values are evident in every project we undertake and every community we serve.

As PATH enters its next chapter and celebrates 35 years of trail building, we remain laser-focused on expanding trail networks, strengthening partnerships and creating opportunities for generations to come.

While we are proud of the miles behind us, our greatest opportunities still lie ahead.

I look forward to sharing the people, projects and partnerships that will shape PATH’s future, because there are indeed, Many Miles Ahead. l

August 2026 | 7

Presorted First-Class Mail U.S. Postage Paid Atlanta, GA Permit No. 8163

PATH Foundation 1601 West Peachtree Street Atlanta, GA 30309

PATH Foundation Board of Directors C. Austin Stephens, , Chairman Alexander C. Taylor, Vice Chairman Tree McGlown, Secretary Harry L. Anderson, Treasurer B. Harvey Hill, Jr. Jamie Hockin Ciannat Howett James C. Kennedy Sarah K. Kennedy Scott Kitchens E. Cody Laird, Jr. Stephen Lanier Lyle Ross

Lauren Shepard R. Charles Shufeldt John W. Somerhalder II Stephanie Stephens W. Douglas Ellis, Jr., Emeritus William C. Fowler, Emeritus Carol Muldawer, Emeritus Greta deMayo, Executive Director

Cover Photo: Pet lovers enjoying a walk around Chastain Park.

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