Mountain Way Common

Mountain Way Common is one of the most unique and progressive greenspaces in Metro Atlanta.

Partially located under a monumental highway overpass, Mountain Way Common reconnects a neighborhood divided by the construction of GA 400 by transforming nine acres of underutilized land into much needed greenspace.

Livable Buckhead works in close partnership with Friends of Mountain Way Common to guide implementation of the community-developed plan for the park. The first priority is the construction of a loop trail around the perimeter of the park. Phase I of the trail was completed in 2015 when a pedestrian bridge was installed across the creek. Phase II converts a portion of roadway into a trail, using colorful planters as a safety barrier and street art to visually cue drivers that they are entering a park zone. Phase II was completed in Fall of 2020.

The Friends of Mountain Common, Livable Buckhead, and Perez Planning + Design, LLC (PP+D) partnered to work collaboratively with neighborhood residents to develop an update to the Mountain Way Common Conceptual Master Plan in 2014. The master planning process was led by the Friends of Mountain Way Common Board. The process included two public charrettes where the Friends of Mountain Way Common and neighborhood residents worked collaboratively to identify unique park zones and develop guiding principles, objectives, and desirable programs and activities that informed the update to the Conceptual Master Plan.

When the conceptual plan was completed in 2014, the community identified an internal loop trail as the top priority for implementation. Livable Buckhead secured a grant to fund construction of a bridge across Nancy Creek to connect both sides of the park. A second grant completed the trail in September 2020. The paved trail circles Mountain Way Common, limiting impact to the natural environment by using the roadway to create a safe corridor for pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles to coexist. The concept for this paved trail – developed in collaboration with Friends of Mountain Way Common and interested residents – makes use of curbs, planters and street art to identify the area as a park zone and to calm traffic. A colorful, sculptural swing set adds a playful element.

Eight student winners of the “Picture Your PATH” art contest painted their nature-themed murals along a future segment of the PATH400 trail in April 2021. The students worked with Girl Scout Katie Maier, who organized the contest as part of her Gold Star project.

Atlanta-based artist Wallace Kelly helped these budding artists recreate their drawing and painting as full-scale murals.

The Picture Your PATH murals beautify a section of Mountain Way Common where Buckhead’s PATH400 trail will one day run through the park. Winning designs include beautiful floral patterns, wildlife animals such as fox and deer, as well as colorful hummingbirds.

On August 1, 2020, Livable Buckhead, Pebble Tossers, Friends of Mountain Way Common and a group of dedicated volunteers came out for a sunny and fun Saturday morning to help create works of art for Mountain Way Common visitors (masks required of course).

Atlanta-based artist Wallace Kelly created the design on the five tables, while Livable Buckhead’s executive director Denise Starling built them in her garage in her spare time. The painting was an extraordinary opportunity to promote community involvement, encourage art in public spaces, and build teamwork while making an immediate and tangible impact in the community.

In September of 2020, Mountain Way Common received it’s newest addition, a large and vibrant sculptural swing designed, built, fabricated and installed by artist Phil Proctor and the Nucleus Sculpture Studio.

Phil Proctor is a professional sculptor practicing in Atlanta since 2003. His permanently installed public art works can be found across the southeastern United States and Eastern Europe including several large scale outdoor works in the Metro Atlanta area. Proctor has developed a professional reputation in the public art community by his involvement in the infrastructure of public art.

Phil Proctor occupies an 11,000 square foot studio in south Atlanta where he works to generate his sculpture and other specialty metal work. His company is Nucleus Sculpture Studio LLC, where he designs, fabricates and installs custom projects for designers, artists and the motion picture industry.