By November 2026, the Chastain Park Conservancy hopes to begin construction on approximately 30 acres of previously inaccessible passive greenspace in the heart of Chastain Park. The planned restoration, known as the Palisades Project, will include a one-mile trail system, scenic overlooks with elevations approaching 40 feet, nature-based play and gathering areas, an outdoor classroom, and connections to Nancy Creek.
“Because of the history of the park, we’ve been thoughtful about doing the due diligence as we go. We started with a comprehensive plan shaped by community input, and we heard clearly that people want more opportunities to access quiet, natural greenspace within the park,” says Rosa McHugh, President and CEO of Chastain Park Conservancy.
According to information provided to Buckhead.com by the Conservancy, nearly $1 million still needs to be raised to meet its goal. The Palisades Project has been funded primarily through private philanthropy, including family foundations, private foundations, individual donors, corporate partners, and civic organizations. The City of Atlanta, as the landowner and CPC’s public partner, has supported the effort through partnership, coordination, and a shared commitment to improving Chastain Park.
While opening previously inaccessible acreage, the Conservancy’s efforts also honor Chastain Park’s history and natural character. The vision for the Palisades Project grew out of a community-informed planning and design process led by the Conservancy and its Lord Aeck Sargent Design Team. CPC is now finalizing a construction-manager-at-risk agreement with SG Contracting, which will work alongside the Conservancy and design team as the project moves toward construction.
“The at-risk structure means the contractor is brought into the project earlier to help refine pricing, constructability, phasing, and schedule. This allows us to better manage costs before construction begins while also holding the contractor accountable for delivering the project within an agreed-upon budget,” states McHugh.
Among other measures, the Conservancy completed a tree survey to identify and protect healthy native trees and important natural features. The project has been designed around the existing tree canopy wherever possible. The broader restoration effort also includes removing invasive species such as privet and kudzu and planting hundreds of native trees and understory plants to help restore a healthy Piedmont forest.
The Palisades Project itself is focused on approximately 30 acres. The Conservancy’s broader restoration work across Chastain Park has opened and improved more than 40 acres over time.
If the Conservancy’s fundraising goals are met, McHugh hopes to break ground on the project in November 2026, with construction expected to take approximately one year and be completed by late 2027.
Additional fundraising efforts will continue this summer with The Gilded Trail on August 8, a dinner and gala experience supporting the future of Chastain Park and The Palisades Project.
