By Melanie Regnier
By the time this issue of The Porch Press comes out in April, sections 4 and 5 of the BeltLine Trail, which run between Boulevard and Glenwood Avenue, will be officially open. At the time of this writing, however, workers are busy completing railings on the looping ramp up to the new bridge at United Avenue, along with a myriad of other tasks to finalize plantings, lighting, and other bits of infrastructure. A new pedestrian bridge crosses Ormewood Avenue, parallel to the existing railroad bridge, with a long stairway and ramp to the street. Access points have also been constructed at Lynwood Street and both sides of Mercer Street.
Heading north on the BeltLine from United Avenue, the first thing I noticed were all the new trees planted: Longleaf Pine (which honestly look like Truffula trees from The Lorax), Tennessee Redbud (in full bloom, bright pink), Shumard Oak, Swamp White Oak, Southern Magnolia, Serviceberry, Fall Fiesta Sugar Maple, Winter King Hawthorn, Slender Silhouette Sweetgum, and River Birch trees, among others. I have since learned that these plantings are part of the “BeltLine Arboretum,” created in partnership with Trees Atlanta. The BeltLine Arboretum, an accredited Class II arboretum, is officially the world’s longest linear arboretum, currently covering over 16 miles of BeltLine trail and projected to cover 22 miles by 2030. The arboretum includes 647 tree and shrub species and cultivars, not to mention native wildflowers and grasses. Basically, we are walking through a botanical garden when we are on it. Trees Atlanta offers free tours to learn more about plant life on the trail; check their website at www.treesatlanta.org to learn more.
The walk from United to Glenwood, even looking at all the trees along the way, seemed to take no time at all. Easy peasy!
