Intern’s Corner: PATH400
As a newcomer to the Buckhead, Atlanta neighborhood, I had never heard of PATH400 when I started my sustainability internship with Livable Buckhead. Instead, I had admired the Buckhead city-skyline from afar numerous times and my general perception was of a concrete jungle. In becoming acquainted with Buckhead and its sustainability landscape, one of my first tasks as an LBI intern was to go and walk the PATH400.
The PATH400 is part of a larger project between Livable Buckhead, the Buckhead Community Improvement District, and the PATH Foundation to bring 106 acres of greenspace to Buckhead, an outgrowth of Livable Buckhead’s 2011 greenspace master plan. The soon to be 5.2 mile long PATH runs along GA 400 and provides open space for Buckhead community members to enjoy parks and trails.
The path also allows for pedestrians and cyclists to safely travel underneath busy roads and provides new opportunities for members of the Buckhead community to traverse their way around Buckhead and surrounding neighborhoods. Most recently, construction began to connect Lenox Square all the way to Lindbergh. In providing networks for sustainable commuters and recreational greenspace enjoyers of Buckhead, the path contributes to a larger sustainability vision for the neighborhood.
When I first approached the path at the Buckhead Wall, I noticed a striking juxtaposition between the spacious trail, shaded by trees and lined with gardens, and the skyline of Buckhead high rises just across the street. On my right, cars whizzed by. On my left, plants curled over the iconic Buckhead Wall until I reached a park with trees, benches, and bushes and, eventually, was surrounded on either side with green. The path itself is adorned with art—tiny decorated bird feeders, painted rocks from Girl Scouts troops, and art from elementary-aged children decorate the space. The local art fosters connections between path-users and the community, and I enjoyed finding new art spots.
One of my favorite dimensions of sustainability has always been greenspace. Whether it’s a jog in a beautiful space, a walk with a friend, an energetic bike ride, or even just a regenerative space to clear my head, it is a privilege to be able to enjoy time outside every day. What makes the PATH400 special is that you can do so right in the middle of Buckhead.
