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Atlanta is one major step closer to a walking route that could keep you busy all weekend. After two decades of land deals, the Beltline has secured the property rights needed to complete its 22-mile loop.
The Atlanta Beltline has secured all the land rights needed to finish its mainline trail, clearing a major hurdle for a continuous loop connecting more than 45 neighborhoods. Announced on October 2, the milestone follows nearly 200 real estate transactions spanning more than 270 acres.
Before you lace up for the full circuit, though, here’s the timeline: the full loop is scheduled to be completed by 2030. For now, 16.7 continuous miles are open to the public, the longest uninterrupted stretch in the project’s history, which debuted in June.
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Still, sorting out the property puzzle is a big deal. The Beltline negotiated with railroads, utilities, corporations, government agencies and individual owners, securing approximately 90 deeds and 230 easements. Purchases ranged from a tiny 15-square-foot patch to a sprawling 65 acres.
“For more than 20 years, our team has worked property by property, neighborhood by neighborhood, to assemble the land and property rights needed to make a 22-mile trail around Atlanta possible,” said Clyde Higgs, president and CEO of Atlanta Beltline, Inc., in the announcement. “Today, that work is complete.”
Much of the route follows former freight rail corridors, turning industrial infrastructure into space for outdoor recreation. But the Northwest Trail required a fresh route through established neighborhoods and business districts, with community meetings helping shape the alignment announced in August 2022.
Once finished, that 4.3-mile section will stretch from Blandtown to the Lindbergh and Morosgo neighborhoods, linking the Westside and Northeast trails. Several Northwest segments are complete or under construction and a recently launched section will include a pedestrian bridge over Northside Drive.
A May economic analysis found $14.2 billion in private investment within the Beltline Planning Area since the project began. The organization has also secured 94 acres to support affordable housing and affordable commercial space. Meanwhile, the Beltline's tax allocation district has created or preserved 4,555 affordable homes—81 percent of its 5,600-unit goal for 2030.
For visitors, the finished loop promises an ambitious way to explore Atlanta through its neighborhoods and public spaces. For now, there’s already plenty of ground to cover—just save the full-circle victory lap for 2030.