In March, the City of Atlanta announced a new infrastructure project, The Stitch, which will work to reconnect the city as well as to repair environmental damage that the industrialization of Atlanta has caused. Many Atlanta citizens argue that the I-75 and I-85 connectors were intentionally built through historically Black neighborhoods as an attempt to force many people out of their homes and separate Downtown and Midtown Atlanta along racial lines. The connector also brought huge environmental damage to the neighborhoods surrounding it, further impoverishing the area.
Construction of The Stitch, a park built next to and on top of the Downtown Connector, aims to repair these issues. The Stitch will cover 14 acres of the Connector and bring 5,600 units of affordable housing and green space to the area. This project is planned to be fully completed by 2032, and construction is set to begin next year.
The Stitch is not the only upcoming infrastructure aiming to support the environment in Atlanta. The BeltLine is an outdoor space that offers bike paths, walking paths, housing, and an area for small businesses to thrive. “The BeltLine is a cool concept! It brings all sorts of communities together and gives them a place to have fun,” says Callie Roumanis ’27. Though construction started in 1992, the BeltLine is still developing, is expected to be completed by 2030, and will range 22 miles.
The environmental movement in Atlanta’s budget is also expanding greatly. In July, the Bezos Earth Fund invested $7.9 million into Atlanta-based non-profits. These non-profits include Gangstas to Growers, HBCU Green Fund Atlanta, and Partnership for Southern Equality. These organizations work to increase access to trees, community gardens, and parks in Atlanta to make our city more eco-friendly and sustainable.
