Alongside Event Emcee Fred Blankenship and the ATL Airport District, the City of College Park Recognized Congressman David Scott with Naming of the Artistic Infrastructure Upgrade
ATLANTA – August 18, 2022 – The City of College Park conducted a revolutionary ground-breaking ceremony on Monday, August 15, to commence the construction of the recently awarded Gateway Pedestrian Bridge and Trail Project. On behalf of the City of College Park, WSB-TV’s Fred Blankenship emceed the event celebrating the new artistic structure that will serve as a 10-foot-wide, 1.08-mile-long bridge and trail optimized for pedestrians and bicycles traffic.
As a highlight of the ceremony, it was announced that the bridge will be named after Georgia’s 13th congressional district representative, Congressman David Scott, for his dedication and support of the College Park community. In addition, the CEO of Adullam Ministries and Chairman of the Board for the College Park Business Industrial Development Authority, Jamelle McKenzie, presented Congressman Scott with a distinguished service award for the work he has done in Georgia since 1974. In receiving this recognition, Congressman Scott was surrounded by an overwhelming amount of support from Fulton County Commissioner Rob Pitts, the Vice President of Major Projects for CW Mathews Construction, Buddy Jump Jr., and State Representatives Kim Schofield and Nan Orrock.
The ceremony was also attended by a number of speakers and south Atlanta advocates such as Mayor Motley Broom as well as Councilmen Clay, Carn, Allen and Gay. Representatives from the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) and the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) also came in support of the new project that has been eight years in the making.
The bridge will connect the Georgia International Convention Center (GICC) and SkyTrain to Downtown College Park and the MARTA to the intersection of John Welsey Ave. and West Main St. The bridge and trail will reduce traffic and increase safety for locals while allowing visitors a scenic view and direct access to the Hartfield-Jackson International Airport, hotels, dining and entertainment.
“This is going to be a game changer for Camp Creek Parkway,” said Cookie Smoak, the president of the ATL Airport District. “The District is growing and we have to figure out ways to maintain its personality and evolve with it. The Gateway Pedestrian Bridge and Trail Project is the perfect example of accomplishing these goals while also honoring the area.”
The city has granted $15.4 million in funding to design and construct the bridge through ARC. Eighty percent of the funding is covered by the grant given by ARC and the rest will be covered through TSPLOST and the City’s general fund. Grant funding was made possible through the hard work of the College Park Staff and representatives David Scott and John Lewis.
The City of College Park’s Director of Infrastructure and Development and Interim City Manager Jackson Myers has planned for the bridge to be an “astounding appearance that will grab the attention of everyone on Camp Creek Parkway”. The project design was led by Prime Engineering, Inc (Prime) and is expected to take approximately 15 months to complete.
“This project shows that an essential infrastructure upgrade can be not only functional but also a beautiful work of art and sculpture,” Myers continued. “We are proud of the way this project will enhance pedestrian, bicycle and vehicular traffic’s sense of arrival to downtown College Park”.
For more information on the development of the Gateway Pedestrian Bridge, visit www.prime-eng.com/Case-Study-Gateway-Pedestrian-Bridge-and-Trail.
MEDIA NOTE: Please access images from the event HERE (Credit: Warren Bond Sr.)
About the ATL Airport District
ATL Airport District is the official convention and visitor bureau for the cities of College Park, Hapeville and Union City, Ga. The District’s mission is to generate economic development for its cities by representing the community as preferred tourism, convention and meeting destination. With the airport having access to 150 cities in the U.S. and 60 cities internationally, over 7,000 hotel rooms with amenities from airport shuttles to pools, walkable restaurants, shops, breweries and more all guests experience southern hospitality with modern work-focused energy.
About the Georgia International Convention Center (GICC)
Georgia’s second-largest convention center, the Georgia International Convention Center (GICC), is uniquely positioned to offer guests and clients unprecedented convenience. As the world’s only convention center directly connected to a major airport, this modern facility embodies the grace and efficiency of flight itself. The GICC is also home to three new LEED-certified convention hotels; the Atlanta Airport Marriott Gateway, the Renaissance Atlanta Airport Gateway and the Springhill Suites Atlanta Airport Gateway. Equipped with a wide range of cutting-edge facilities, including a 9,800 square foot Culinary Arts Center and Georgia’s largest ballroom in metro Atlanta at 40,000 square feet, this event space provides solutions tailored to each convention’s unique needs. The GICC has also successfully achieved GBAC Star Facility Accreditation and is committed to protecting the health and safety of all attendees at every event.
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Media Contact:
Blake Hamilton, Hemsworth Communications
347-3208-4764 or AADPR@HemsworthCommunications.com
