A nonprofit that raises funds for Atlanta Beltline projects announced Tuesday it received an $8 million donation to help bring a new bike park to life.
Atlanta Beltline Partnership received the gift from the Chestnut Family Foundation, a nonprofit founded by Mailchimp co-founder and former CEO Ben Chestnut. The donation will help establish a network of bike paths and courses at Westside Park, which surrounds a reservoir in the former Bellwood Quarry near West Marietta Street NW and Marietta Boulevard NW.
The Beltline will build the park. The Beltline Partnership said it continues to seek another $6 million to reach its bike park fundraising goal.
Many cyclists enjoy riding their bikes on the Beltline, but this new park would create a first-of-its-kind amenity along the 22-mile loop of parks and trails.
The cycling trail network within Atlanta’s largest park will be the first municipal bike park in Atlanta. Design concepts are underway, and construction is expected to begin at the end of 2025.
Courtesy Atlanta Beltline Inc.
Courtesy Atlanta Beltline Inc.
“This (bike) park is a critical component of Atlanta Beltline’s mission to provide equitable recreational opportunities and healthy lifestyles for all Atlantans,” Atlanta Beltline President and CEO Clyde Higgs said in a news release. “It’s not just about physical activity, but about creating a community hub that will create a passion for a sport that many people will enjoy for decades.”
Preliminary site maps show plans for 2¼ miles of bike trails with varying difficulty levels. A bicycle playground, skills course, gravity trails and jump lines also are in the proposal, along with hiking trails.
The Chestnut Family Foundation is led by Chestnut and his wife, Teresa, and its mission is to partner with nonprofits that demonstrate “compassion and creativity in improving access and choice for children,” the release said. MailChimp recently opened its new 360,000-square-foot headquarters along the Beltline’s Eastside Trail in Old Fourth Ward.
“We’re thrilled that this donation will give greater access to the sport of mountain biking to the people of Atlanta,” Ben Chestnut said in the release. “Westside Park is the perfect place to create new opportunities for residents to explore and enjoy the outdoors, fostering a love for biking in communities that previously didn’t include unique trails like this.”
Rob Brawner, executive director of the Beltline Partnership, said the nonprofit is “deeply grateful for Ben and Teresa Chestnut’s generosity and vision in advancing a world-class facility that will expand biking in Atlanta and beyond.”
Courtesy Atlanta Beltline Inc.
Courtesy Atlanta Beltline Inc.
“Their leadership gift not only propels us closer to realizing the full potential of the bike park and trails at Westside Park but also serves as a powerful call to action for other donors,” Brawner said. “We are currently seeking an additional $6 million to fully bring this ambitious design to life.”
The scope of the first phase of construction is dependent upon the amount of additional funding Atlanta Beltline Partnership receives. More information on the bike park and donation options are available at beltline.org/learn/current-projects/westside-park-mountain-bike-pump-track.
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