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INVENTORY ANDANALYSISThe purpose of the inventory and analysis is toprovide a detailed and comprehensive assessmentof existing conditions, opportunities and constraintsin the Maddox Park area. Available data, site visitsand review of previous planning efforts providedthe information for this analysis. Findings aboutthe park’s current condition and context supportthe resulting master plan.Park History and ContextMaddox Park is one of Atlanta’s oldest and mosthistoric parks. The area around Maddox Parkinitially developed as a first generation suburb ofAtlanta during the late 1800s and early 1900s.During this time period, the City of Atlanta createda municipal landfill on the property that is todayMaddox Park.As the area grew in prominence through the 1920s,several significant developments occurred in thearea including the creation of Maddox Park andWashington Park as well as the construction ofBooker T. Washington High School. Maddox Park’sconversion from landfill to park began in the late1920s and was completed in 1931. This initial parkdevelopment included the pool house, swimmingpond (later removed and replaced with a pool) andpavilion that remain today. The original boundariesof Maddox Park extended south to Boone Boulevardand incorporated the property that HerndonElementary School currently occupies.Over the years, the area around Maddox Park hasgrown and changed. From the 1930s through the1960s, a collection of middle class neighborhoodsgrew to surround the park. These neighborhoodsinclude Grove Park, Bankhead and English Avenue.From the 1960s through the 1980s, the area begana decline, losing roughly half of its populationduring this time period. Today, the area continuesto struggle to regain its prominence.The park and the area around it have also beeninfluenced by rail and industrial activity. TwoThis map from 1928 shows Maddox Park extending fromHollowell Parkway to Boone Boulevard (Simpson St.).prominent rail lines ran through the area: theAtlanta, Birmingham and Coastline Railroad andthe Louisville and Nashville Railroad. Portions ofboth rail lines remain today where the AtlantaBeltLine and the active CSX rail line pass throughthe park.The industrial properties that are south and east ofMaddox Park are relics of the area’s access to railservice. Those that remain today include bothactive and abandoned industrial businesses, aswell as city Public Works and WatershedManagement facilities. Several of these properties,including city-owned properties, have beenidentified as potential brownfield sites.Previous Planning EffortsThough there have not been any recent parkspecific planning efforts related to Maddox Park,there have been several community and city-wideplanning efforts that have identified Maddox Parkas an important park along the Atlanta BeltLineand in west Atlanta. The following is a is a summaryof these planning efforts.4SUBAREA 10APPENDIX 4: MADDOX PARK MASTER PLAN

Atlanta BeltLine Redevelopment PlanAdopted by the city in 2006, the Atlanta BeltLineRedevelopment Plan established study boundaries,presented the information required to create theAtlanta BeltLine TAD, and established the overallvision and framework for the Atlanta BeltLine. Aspart of the vision, new development will establishan interconnected network of parks, greenspace,trails and transit. Specifically related to MaddoxPark, the plan vision recommends the following: Expand Maddox Park to the west and south toincorporate portions of Proctor Creek. Improve the street network to provide betterneighborhood access to the park. Connect area parks using Atlanta BeltLinetransit and trails.The 2006 Atlanta BeltLine Redevelopment Plan envisions parkexpansion, an improved street network, trails and expandedtransit service for Maddox Park.The BeltLine Emerald Necklace: Atlanta’s NewPublic RealmDeveloped in 2004 by the Trust for Public Land, thestudy identified thirteen “jewels”(parks) that candefine the Atlanta BeltLine’s park network. MaddoxPark is identified as one of the thirteen “jewels” inthe report, and as one of the parks with potential toexpand. The other three similar parks are EnotaPark, Ardmore Park and Piedmont Park.In the report, several steps are outlined to improveand expand the park.The analysis andrecommendations include the following: Create better access and visibility – The parkis currently difficult to access from adjacentneighborhoods. Also, visibility of the parkfrom streets and adjacent development is lowbecause of the area’s topography. The reportrecommends extension of North Avenue acrossthe Atlanta BeltLine and connecting the AtlantaBeltLine trail to the park. Maddox Park as catalyst for new development - The report notes that successful expansion and improvement of the park willaccelerate redevelopment in the area. Newdevelopment adjacent to the Atlanta BeltLineand the park will increase activity and visibilityin the park. Relocate city facilities – The report identifiesthe need to relocate the Public Works operationsMaddox Park is one of thirteen “jewels” (parks) identifiedto enhance the Atlanta BeltLine and the City’s greenspacenetwork as part of the 2004 Trust for Public Land study.to another area of the city. The industrial natureof the facilities is not compatible with theresidential and recreational nature of the park. Expand the park – Expansion of the park westto Pierce Avenue and south to the Atlanta5ATLANTA BELTLINE MASTER PLAN December 6, 2010SUBAREA 10

Figure 9: West Subarea Greenspace System Concept34BeltLine and CSX rail line is recommended. Thisexpansion will allow new recreational activitiesto be located in the park. Improve maintenance – The reportalso identified the need to improve parkmaintenance. Several areas of the park needrestoration and general maintenance. Thereport notes that Maddox cannot be a greatpark unless proper management is part of theimprovement strategy.PKWYD.L. HOLLOWELL PHarwellHeights Park§ 20Wilson MillParkCompleted in 2009, Project Greenspace is Atlanta’smost recent greenspace master plan. The planestablishes a framework to improve, grow andmanage the city’s system of parks, natural areas,civic spaces, greenways and trails.The greenspace concept for the city includes anetwork of greenways and trails connecting parks(existing and proposed) and natural areas. Specificto the Maddox Park, the concept includes thefollowing. Creation of the Proctor Creek Greenway thatbegins at Maddox Park and extends north tothe Chattahoochee River. Connect near-by parks and neighborhoods toMaddox Park with multi-use trails. Expansion of Maddox Park to the west andsouth.Project Greenspace also includes a NeedsAssessment and Survey of the current system’sinventory, condition and future needs. Based onthe survey, the five highest priorities for citizens ofAtlanta are:Walking and biking trailsMozley ParkWestviewCemeteryComparison to Piedmont Park – The reportnotes that Maddox Park has many of the featuresof Piedmont Park, but it does not afford thesame level of activity, access or management.To take advantage of the natural areas, existingrecreational facilities and opportunities forexpansion, the park will need to be properlyfunded and managed.Project Greenspace 285285CAMPBELLTONMaddox ParkAdamsPark§ RDTERMS § Exis ng GreenspaceGreenspace Focus AreasExis ng and Poten al Connec onsProposed GreenwayExis ng GreenspaceCoreThe ProjectGreenspaceUrbanvisionfor MaddoxPark includesPriority Mul -use TrailsUndeveloped Land (Poten alLower Density AreaOther Mul -use Trails (Exis ng and Planned)Greenspace)The BeltLineexpandingthe park andlinking it tootherparks andBike Lanes/Arterial StreetsOther Arterial Streets (not classified as Bike Langreenspace withtrails,transitandgreenways.Electric U lity Corridors Data Source: City of Atlanta00.512MilesData current as of 2008 Nature centers/trails Small neighborhood parks (2-10 acres) Large community parks Indoor fitness and exercise facilitiesThe Needs Assessment also created level of servicestandards for park facilities in Atlanta. The standardsare based on the current level of service in the city,comparisons to standards in other major US citiesand projected need for facilities based onpopulation projects for the city to 2030. Based onthe recommended standards for Atlanta, the needfor park facilities is greatest for the following: Walking/biking trails Rentable picnic pavilions Outdoor pools Spray pads League play: Informal open practice fields Playgrounds Outdoor basketball courts Off-leash dog parks.Bankhead MARTA Station Transit Area LCI Study6SUBAREA 10APPENDIX 4: MADDOX PARK MASTER PLAN

Completed in 2006, this Livable Centers Initiative(LCI) study and focuses on the area around theBankhead MARTA station. The vision for the areaincludes transit-oriented mixed use developmentnear the MARTA station and along HollowellParkway.Specific to Maddox Park, itsrecommendations include: Develop a Maddox Park Master Plan to guideexpansion of the park and park improvements. Remove city Public Works facilities fromMaddox Park. Relocate all non-park buildings and facilitiesfrom Maddox Park. 3:5expansion of Maddox Park and higher intensity developmentDevelop a Proctor Creek Greenway –Sectionusing3: eltLine.the floodplain and stream buffer – to connectMaddox Park to areas along Proctor Creek northand west of the park. Increase activity at the edges of MaddoxPark with new, higher density mixed use andresidential development. Improve access to Maddox Park with newstreets, pedestrian connections, trails andtransit service.The Bankhead MARTA Station LCI Study concept includesPark UseCurrent activity in the park is a mix of socialgathering and limited recreational activity. Thecurrent facilities, and their condition, limit thequality of recreational activity and also impact thelevel of safety (and perceived level of safety) in thepark. Recreation Activity – The park facilities, in theircurrent condition, support minimal recreationactivity. Based on observation, the multi-usefield is infrequently used for pick-up ball gamesas well as a golf practice. The basketball courtsare used for informal pick-up games, mostoften during the large community gatherings.There are no organized sports that take place inthe park. The pool is closed indefinitely due tolack of reconstruction funding.Park Rhythm - Based on observation, the parkexperiences the greatest level of activity after5pm on weekdays and on the weekends. During these time periods, large gatherings typical-The basketball and tennis courts are located in the historiccore of the park.ly occur in the parking areas of the historic core.During weekday mornings and afternoons, parkmaintenance crews and unemployed or homeless men appear to be the primary park users. Social Gathering – Maddox Park is a popularafter-work and weekend destination forcommunity gathering. Rather than takingadvantage of the picnic areas, however, the largegatherings are focused within and adjacent tothe parking areas in the park. Based on parkvisits during these gatherings, attendees arepredominately male and between the agesof 18 and 64. Families and children were notobserved to be a part of these gatherings.7ATLANTA BELTLINE MASTER PLAN December 6, 2010SUBAREA 10

Map 3. Existing ConditionsHollowell Parkway Construction Zone (Active)To Future Westside Park/Potential Extension ofProctor Creek GreenwayHistoric ParkGateway/EntrancePlanned BeltLine TransitStation LocationCSX RailBrdigeBankheadMARTA StationParkEntranceHollowell ParkwayPlayground/Picnic AreaHistoric Pooland Pool HouseMulti-UseFieldProctor Creek Floodplain/Potential Park Expansion AreaRolling TopographyRRTAMAPierce AvenueEroded StreambanksSteep Slopeof Flo wDirneectionTennis andBasketball CourtsiBeltLMARTABridgePrivate Property/Industrial UseHistoric PavilionCity GreenhouseailLineProctorCreekSteConcrete Pipe/Check DamConcreteCulvertNorth AvenueMARTABridgeep SlopeCSX RailBridgeNorth AvenueConcreteCulvertCity ParkMaintenance BuildingDirectionofFlowDirection of FlowProctor CreekChannelizedStream CorridorCity Public Works,Watershed ManagementComplexPrivate Property/Industrial Use/Potential Park Expantion AreaConcreteCulverteil LinX RaSCSteep SlopesPotential FutureGreeenwayBeltLine Subarea 10To Boone BoulevardLEGENDMaddox Park BoundaryBeltLineCSX Rail LineMARTA Rail LineBOONE/HOLLOWELLoExisting ConditionsStream/CreekPrepared By:withPerkins Will andGrice and Associates0100200400SCALE IN FEET8SUBAREA 10APPENDIX 4: MADDOX PARK MASTER PLAN

City Greenhouse – The city Parks Departmentuses the greenhouse in Maddox Park to growplants for city parks and municipal buildings. Itis currently fenced off and only used by ParksDepartment employees.In addition to typical park uses in Maddox Park, thecity uses the southeast portion of the park to houseseveral city maintenance operations. The facilitiesinclude fleet vehicle services, water managementoperations, forestry and waste trucks. The heavyvehicles that travel to and from the facilities impactthe adjacent neighborhoods and park.Illegal activity in the park is also a concern, accordingto park users and the Atlanta Police Department.Selling drugs and other illegal activity is an issueduring day and evening hours. The limited visibilityand activity in the park contributes to this issue.Large gatherings congregate in, and adjacent to, the parkingareas, rather than the green areas of the park.Issues Active rail lines pass through the park, makingcertain areas of the park difficult or unsafe toaccess. Families with children infrequently use MaddoxPark. The park is rarely used during the daytime onweekdays. The parking habits of park visitors during largesocial gatherings is a safety concern whereparked cars limit fire and emergency vehicleaccess. Daytime use of the park is low.Illegal activity (real and perceived) negativelyimpacts safety and park use.Opportunities Increasing development around the park canincrease activity in the park during weekdaysand daytime hours. Improvements to make the park to be morevisible and accessible will increase activity inthe park and the perceived level of safety. New recreation amenities can serve a widerdemographic, especially children and families. Relocation of the Public Works operations willallow for park expansion and remove the noiseand heavy vehicle impact on the adjacentneighborhoods.Heavy vehicles associated with the Public Works operationstravel through adjacent neighborhoods.9ATLANTA BELTLINE MASTER PLAN December 6, 2010SUBAREA 10

InfrastructureOne street and one driveway enter the park,providing vehicular access. North Avenue formsthe edge of the park’s southern boundary beforeturning north and connecting to Hollowell Parkway.Access to the multi-purpose field and Public Worksis from North Avenue, as is a small amount ofinformal parking.Nearer to the Bankhead MARTA station, a drivewayprovides vehicular access to the historic core fromHollowell Parkway. This driveway loops around thepool house and also has a spur that providesvehicular access to the greenhouse. Currently,cement bollards block vehicles from traveling thecomplete loop – effectively creating a dead-enddriveway. Parking is adjacent to the pool house,and during large social gatherings, vehicles parallelpark along the driveway loop. This is a safety hazardas it hinders fire and emergency vehicle access.Pedestrian facilities near and within the park areminimal and in poor condition. Along NorthAvenue, from Chappell Road to Hollowell Parkway,there are no sidewalks. Along Hollowell Parkway,sidewalks either do not exist or are in very poorcondition, th

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