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THE CASCADE GLADE PROJECT

The Cascade Glade Project

Inspired by the 10-minute walk

The Cascade Glade Project was designed to address community concerns about the lack of safe access to the CSNP (Cascade Springs Nature Preserve).

It all started in 2018 when CSNC, formerly (Friends of Cascade Springs Nature Preserve) met with various community members and park visitors to understand that people felt unsafe in the parking and trailhead areas. Local residents also expressed a sense of disconnection from the preserve. So We conducted a community-wide survey – with over 150 participants. (see responses HERE) to gain perspective on a possible solution.

Respondents stated:

A) Automobile centric lifestyles threaten community conservation efforts.

B) SW Atlanta has the lowest pedestrian infrastructure coverage in the city.

C) Local residents increasingly feel disconnected from the preserve.

D) People with disabilities have difficulty accessing the park.

E) The community needs safe pedestrian friendly access to the park

F) They support a proposal to fund an ADA compliant, pedestrian friendly connecting path from the Cascade Road shared-use path into the ‘gateway area’ to the interior of the nature preserve.

Through the survey results, the community had spoken, so in 2019, CSNC worked with civic leaders to plan a $400k capital improvement project to enhance safety and access to the nature preserve.

First, we obtained a $300,000 funding commitment from Atlanta City Councilmember Marci Collier Overstreet. Next, we raised another $100,000 from a Park Pride Legacy grant to fund improvements to the preserve’s entranceway, parking area, and meadows.  In the winter of 2021, DPR (the Department of Parks and Recreation) initiated the Cascade Glade Project. The project’s phases include procurement, community engagement, design, permitting, and construction.  The project was completed in July 2023. Atlanta City Councilmember Marci Collier Overstreet hosted the opening ceremony on June 16th, 2023.  The ceremony was well attended by the public, the City of Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation, Park Pride, the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, and landscape architect Patrick Hand who provided insight on the project.  The video below illustrates the concept plan prepared for fundraising purposes. This visual is only a concept.  The final plan is in the flipbook below.

Cascade Glade Draft Design

  • Two men in safety vests and hard hats.
  • A sign for cascade springs nature preserve
  • A bird 's eye view of a parking lot and trees.
  • A view of a dirt bike track from above.
  • A road with trees and orange fence on it
  • A road with orange fence and trees in the background.
  • A road with trees and bushes in the background
  • A red fence in the middle of a forest.
  • A red fence is blocking off the road.
  • A drawing of the site plan for a park.
  • A bird 's eye view of a parking lot with cars parked on the side.
  • A bird 's eye view of the road and trees.
  • A bird 's eye view of a parking lot with cars parked on it.
  • A construction site with a tractor and other equipment.
  • A pile of debris in the middle of a field.
  • A view of a construction site with trees in the background.
  • A couple of cars parked in the middle of a parking lot.
  • A group of people standing around in the woods.
  • A drawing of a circular path with dots on it.
  • A pile of rubble in the middle of a forest.
  • A white truck parked in the dirt near rocks.
  • A white and black tractor is parked in the dirt.
  • A dirt road with trees in the background
  • A forest with trees and red bushes in the background.
  • A forest with trees and grass in the foreground.
  • A trail in the middle of a forest.
  • Three large concrete planters are lined up in a row.
  • A dirt path in the middle of a field.
  • A man standing next to a fire hydrant.
  • A man standing on some steps in the woods
  • A path that is made of rocks and has red tape around it.
  • A large pile of dirt in the middle of a forest.
  • A man standing on top of a dirt hill.
  • A stone staircase with steps leading up to it.
  • A person in yellow vest standing next to rocks.
  • A road with orange cones and wooden poles.
  • A man in yellow vest standing on grass near two other men.
  • A person in a yellow vest holding a clipboard.
  • A man in yellow vest standing on dirt road.
  • A man in yellow vest standing on top of dirt.
  • A man in yellow vest standing on dirt road.
  • A man in green shirt walking on dirt path.
  • A dirt path with rocks and trees in the background.
  • A group of people working on the side of a road.
  • A man in safety gear standing on the side of a road.
  • A red boat is sitting in the grass.
  • A red tarp covers the entrance to an abandoned cabin.
  • A pile of rocks and some steps on the ground.
  • A road with orange cones and trees in the background.
  • A road with trees and construction work on it.
  • A construction site with trees and orange caution tape.
  • A road with dirt and wood on it
  • A pile of dirt on the side of a road.
  • A house that is in the middle of some trees
  • A man working on the sidewalk of a road.
  • A man working on the side of a road.
  • A group of people working on the ground.
  • A man working on concrete in the dirt.
  • Two men in hard hats and safety vests standing on a path.
  • A concrete path in the middle of a park.
  • A path that is going through the woods.
  • A path that is in the middle of some grass.
  • A concrete path in the middle of a park.
  • A path in the middle of a forest with trees behind it.
  • A concrete slab that has been laid in the ground.
  • A concrete slab is being built on the side of a road.
  • A road that has been laid out and is being worked on.
  • A road that has been laid out and is being worked on.
  • A concrete walkway in the middle of a forest.
  • A path with steps leading to the top of it.
  • A path with steps leading to the top of it.
  • A view of the dirt path from above.
  • A path with steps leading to the top of it.
  • A path with steps leading to the top of it.
  • A circular stone structure in the middle of a forest.
  • A circular stone structure in the middle of a forest.
  • A pile of dirt in the middle of a field.
  • A dirt road with tracks in the middle of it
  • A stone wall in the middle of a forest.
  • A dirt path with rocks and trees in the background.
  • A trail in the woods with trees and rocks
  • A field with rocks and dirt in the middle of it.
  • A trail in the woods with trees and rocks
  • A forest with trees and red construction tape.
  • A road in the middle of a forest with trees.
  • A forest with trees and bushes covered in red tarps.
  • A path that is going through the woods.
  • A path in the middle of a wooded area.
  • A white car parked in the grass near some trees.
  • A white car parked on the side of a road.
  • A concrete structure in the middle of a park.
  • A park with trees and grass in the background
  • A parking lot with trees and bushes in the background.
  • A lot of rocks and grass in the middle of a field.
  • A group of orange cones sitting on top of a dirt field.
  • A park with trees and benches in the background.
  • A dirt road with trees in the background
  • A dirt road with trees and debris on it
  • A dirt road in the middle of a forest.
  • A man holding a grill over the top of a fire pit.
  • Two people working on a construction site.
  • A man in reflective vest holding up a piece of metal.
  • A group of people standing on top of a dirt road.
  • A group of people standing on top of a dirt road.
  • A man standing on the side of a path in the woods.
  • A man in safety gear standing on the side of a road.
  • A paved path through the woods with trees
  • A path in the woods with trees and rocks
  • A concrete path in the middle of a forest.
  • A metal fence with a black box on top of it.
  • A cement truck is parked on the side of a road.
  • A group of people standing next to a pile of rocks.
  • A metal gate with a lock on it.
  • A paved path through the woods with trees
  • A black and white drawing of a park with a lot of lines
  • A man standing on the side of a road.
  • A concrete slab being poured for a park.
  • A group of people standing around in the woods.
  • A bench and trash can in the middle of a park.
  • A sidewalk with trees and grass on the side.
  • A sidewalk with trees in the background
  • A concrete walkway with steps and rocks in the middle of it.
  • A walkway with rocks and grass in the middle of it.
  • A concrete path in the middle of a forest.
  • A concrete walkway with rocks on the side of it.
  • A section of the side of a river with water running down it.
  • A bench that is sitting on top of some wood.
  • A dog is sitting on the ground in front of trees.
  • A bench on the side of a sidewalk near grass.
  • A black trash can in the middle of a park.
  • A park with benches and trash cans on the side of road.
  • A walkway with rocks and grass in the middle of it.
  • A man wearing sunglasses and smiling for the camera.
  • A flyer with trees and a path in the background.
  • A program for the atlanta city council meeting.
  • A woman standing at a podium in front of trees.
  • A group of people standing next to each other.
  • A table with flowers and plates on it
  • A group of people sitting under a tent.
  • Two men standing next to each other in a park.
  • A man and woman standing in front of a podium.
  • A man in green shirt standing at podium near trees.
  • A man and woman standing at a podium.
  • A man and woman standing next to a podium.
  • A man and woman standing next to each other.
  • A woman in white hat standing at a podium.
  • A woman standing at a podium in front of trees.
  • A group of people sitting on chairs in front of a crowd.
  • A group of people sitting in chairs under an awning.
  • A group of people sitting in chairs under an awning.
  • A group of people posing for a picture.
  • A man in a wheelchair with three women.
  • A group of people posing for the camera.
  • Three women standing next to each other on a sidewalk.
  • A group of people standing on the sidewalk.
  • A group of people standing around in the woods.
  • Three people posing for a picture in front of trees.
  • Two men taking a selfie in front of trees.
  • A man and woman smile for the camera.
  • Two women standing next to each other in a park.
  • Three people posing for a picture in front of trees.
  • Two men posing for a picture in front of trees.
  • Two men posing for a picture in front of a wall.
  • A man and woman posing for the camera in front of trees.
  • A man and woman posing for a picture in the woods.
  • A man and woman posing for the camera.
  • Two men posing for a picture in the park.
  • A man and woman posing for the camera.
  • A group of people standing around in the grass.
  • Three people standing in front of a forest.
  • A group of people posing for the camera.
  • Four people sitting on a bench in the park.
  • A group of people posing for a picture.
  • A man standing in front of a crowd holding a microphone.
  • A group of people standing on the sidewalk.
  • A group of people standing around in front of a building.
  • A group of people standing around in the grass.
  • A group of people playing musical instruments in the woods.
  • A man in colorful clothing standing on top of a cement structure.
  • A group of people standing around in the grass.
  • A group of people standing on the sidewalk.
  • A group of people playing musical instruments in front of an audience.
  • A man standing next to a bunch of instruments.
  • A man with long hair and a hat is standing in front of some people.

Cascade Springs
Nature Preserve

2852 CASCADE ROAD SW,
ATLANTA GA, 30311
(404)992-1910

Contact

Press Room
Sponsor

Conservation

125 ACRES
Adopt A Forest
Watershed Stewardship

Education

Scouts
West Atlanta Watershed Alliance
City of Atlanta Dept. of Parks & Rec.

Visitor Responsibility

Leave No Trace Principles

Community Participation

Volunteer
Membership
Friends Forum
FUNDRAISING GOALS
MEETING AGENDA
PROJECT STATUS

Public Art

Radcliffe Bailey